Minimizing Surgical Scars

New treatments to help minimize the appearance of surgical scars were among the topics discussed at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in San Francisco, CA. Two new treatment methods that show promise are the use of a pulsed-dye laser and topical application of imiquimod.

Pulsed-dye laser uses a yellow, high-energy light to remove scar redness and flatten hypertrophic scars and keloids. This process can also improve the itching and burning sensations that accompany some scars.

Topical application of imiquimod, an immune response modifier (IRM), enhances the skin's ability to identify and control or destroy certain viral infections in the skin by stimulating cytokine production in the skin. When IRMs stimulate cytokines, which are naturally occurring proteins that the immune system's cells use to communicate with each other, cell immunity is enhanced and the body is able to more efficiently control or eliminate virus-infected cells.

[black up pointing small triangle]Information: http://www.aad.org