How long does it take for a scar to fade?
We all have scars. Some scars will fade over time, but it’s unlikely that they’ll go away completely on their own. These scars could be from childhood accidents, surgery, or illness. Scar treatment is what you’ll need if you want to make them less noticeable.
- Keloids and acne scars that are sunken in are the least likely to go away.
- If you don’t treat acne scars that are sunken, they may become more obvious as your skin loses its elasticity over time.
- When it comes to scars, preventing them is better than fixing them. Take care of your wounds to keep scars from forming.
How long does it take for scars to go away if nothing is done?
Depending on the type of scar, it can take up to two years for the scar to fade away on its own. After two years, it’s not likely that your scar will get any lighter.
Scars are a normal part of the healing process after tissue damage. Most wounds make the skin break, which lets the collagen out.
Collagen is a protein that is often linked to skin that looks fuller and younger. When your skin breaks, collagen grows in the wound to help it heal and get stronger. This goes on for a few months, leaving a scar that is raised or lumpy.
A lot of scars start to look worse before they look better. During the six weeks it takes for your body to make a strong scar, the skin around your scar will get very tight, hard, and red. Your scar should get smoother, softer, and flatter over the next four months.
How long does it take for scar treatment to make scars less noticeable?
You can start to see results from some scar treatments after just 2 weeks. Most scars should fade over time, but there are many things you can do to help them fade faster or even more than they would on their own.
Silicone gels
Silicone gels keep your skin hydrated and let it breathe, which helps scars soften and start to heal. To see a difference, you will need to use it more than once.
Botox
Fillers, like Botox or similar injections, can make your skin smoother and fuller, making your scars less noticeable. In a few weeks, you should see a change.
Scar lotions
Specialist scar creams can get under the skin’s surface to make scars look better by adding moisture, helping cells renew, and promoting the formation of collagen.
The use of lasers
By focusing on the blood vessels in the extra scar tissue, laser or light therapy may be able to make your scar less red. It can also help smooth out your skin, making scars look less deep. You might need more than one treatment before you see a big change.
Microneedling
Skin needling involves rolling a small device with a lot of tiny needles over the skin. It can smooth the skin and make scars less visible [5]. Depending on the type of scar and skin you have, you may need more than one treatment to see a difference.
Factors in time it takes for scars to fade
Many factors can slow down the healing of your scars. These include:
- Your age – Older skin is often more lax than younger skin, so scars often settle much quicker.
- Skin condition – Moisturized, well cared for skin will often heal faster and better.
- Sun exposure – Any excess sun exposure isn’t great for your skin – but it can be especially damaging for scarred skin.
- The severity of the scar – Larger, deeper scars will often take longer to fade.
- Type of scar – Keloids and pitted scars often take longer to fade and may not fade at all.
Summary
The length of time scars take to heal and fade depends on a lot of factors from the type of scar to your own skin condition and age. Treatments like scar creams can help to speed up the natural scar healing process but some scars may not completely fade or disappear at all, while others might need the help of a healthcare professional.
READ MORE ARTICLES:
