How to Remove Old Insect Bite Scars on Legs?

I have old scars in my legs caused by insect bites. I'm terribly uncomfortable to go to the beach. What can I do? Please help me, I want be free from these scars.

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legs scar removal

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by ehramonique in cebu philippines

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Improving insect bite scars on the legs

Dear Ehramonique, I presume the scars you are refering to are dark marks left behind after an insect bite. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and can follow any injury to the skin. I find the best way to lighten this dark color is a combination of a 4% hydroquinone cream used at home and a series of superficial TCA peels done at your dermatologist's office. Best wishes for your success, Dr Carr

Leg insect bites can be dark and discolored. Melaquin AM and Melaquin PM

I see these leg scars often and begin treatment with topical Melaquin AM and Melaquin PM, followed by MelaPeel treatments to reduce the pigmentation. The process may take 3 to 6 months.

Old scars on legs

It may be very difficult to fade your dark spots. Tretinoin cream, glycolic acid and hydroquinone can help with some fading but it does take a long time. You can try using a waterproof makeup to camouflage the dark spots.

Insect bite scars

It is difficult to say specifically without examining you. If they are red, they may be amenable to some lasers. If they were open wounds that needed to heal secondarily, they might be amenable to excision.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Treating old scars depends on the type of scar

The best way to remove old scars depends on what the scar looks like. A red scar can be treated with a pulse dye laser. A brown scar can be treated with a Q-Switched Ruby or Alexandrite laser. A depressed scar can be treated with a variety of injection fillers or fat transfer and/or subcision. And, an elevated scar can be treated with injections of triamcinalone and/or 5% % Flurouracil.

Mitchel Goldman, MD

5 reviews

San Diego Dermatologic Surgeon

www.GBKderm.com

Removing old insect bite leg scars

" I have old scars in my legs caused by insect bites. I'm terribly uncomfortable to go to the beach. " The appearance of a scar depends on many factors such as mechanism of injury, mode of repair (or not), location on the body, age of the patient, type of skin, ethnicity, did the wound become infected etc. Unfortunately, scars cannot be removed -- although in many cases they may be made better and less noticeable by scar revision. Good Luck.