The number of skin treatments available today can be overwhelming. Don't let the vast scar treatment options keep you from treating them so you can start looking your best. Some scars fade with time, however, don't chance the wait and look into the following treatments now.

Cosmetic Scar Treatments

Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure where the skin is frozen and then abraded away with a special instrument. This quick removal of skin signals the body to replace it with new and healthy skin cells. When first developed, dermabrasion was used to treat acne and other scars and pock marks.

Pros: One session does the trick to diminish the visibility of scars.

Cons: This procedure requires either local or general anesthesia. Recovery time includes 7-10 days of healing, plus an additional 5-6 weeks for the complete disappearance of pinkness. Burn scars are not treated with dermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion is a less abrasive form of dermabrasion that uses an exfoliating tool and a suction device to remove dead skin cells. Like dermabrasion, the skin removal causes the body to generate new skin cells.

Pros: The procedure and recovery time is quick. It is less invasive than dermabrasion.

Cons: More than 1 treatment is needed (you're looking at 4-8 sessions). Follow-up treatments are required for maintenance.

Steroid Injections are used in the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars, the steroid mixes with the scar tissue, minimizing inflammation and collagen growth. An excess of collagen forms keloid and hypertrophic scars, as well as causes itching and flaking.

Pros: Steroids work well with decreasing the visibility of keloid and hypertrophic scars.

Cons: Use in excess can lead to thin and weak skin. Ineffective when treating atrophic scars. Collagen injections works to remove atrophic scars, however, results are not long lasting.

Laser Treatment is available for the different types of scars. Generally, during the session, a surgeon moves the laser along the scar tissue, removing a layer of skin that covers the protruding scar tissue and exposing new skin. It is an effective hypertrophic acne scar treatment. When treating atrophic scars, the lasers used stimulate the production of collagen.

Pros: Effective on both atrophic and hypertrophic scars. It couples well with other facials or skin treatments, allowing you to combine both facility and anesthesia costs.

Cons: Skin discoloration (hyper- and hypopigmentation) are quite common. Also, those with psoriasis, cystic acne and dermatitis, among others, should avoid laser treatment.

Scar Revision typically refers to procedures that blend the scar tissue with the surrounding skin. Hypertrophic treatment scar revision surgery specifically describes the process of taking scar tissue and changing the incision line to create a less obvious scar.

Pros: Scar revision is versatile and can be performed on tissue all over the body. Works well for places that are highly visible. Results are permanent.

Cons: The surgery might take 1-3 hours as well as the administration of anesthesia.

Over the Counter Scar Treatments

Onion Extract when applied to scar tissue helps reduce appearance of scars by acting as an anti-inflammatory and by inhibiting the production of collagen. Application over a course of several months is necessary in order to reduce scar tissue.

Silicone, found as a gel or sheets, lightens and flattens protruding scars. Although a few hypothesis exist, scientists have yet to agree on how silicone works.

Mucin, produced by the Helix Aspersa Muller, acts much like the cosmetic procedures discussed above. This secretion has anti-inflammatory, exfoliating and skin-regenerating properties that produce results similar to those that remove the superficial layer of skin to stimulate healthy skin cell growth. This product is becoming a new trend in the beauty market.