3 months post op, how can I fill in the scar left after a mole removal?

Question

Three months ago i had a mole removed from my cheek near my nose. It healed and now I'm left with a pinkish depression where it was. Is there anything i can do to reduce the appearance of the scar? Preferably nothing surgical or requiring going to a dermatologist. Something i can do at home.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

There are many options to consider when treating scars on the cheeks. A combination of lasers can help improve the contour; whereas the discoloration resulting from PIH after mole removal can be improved with Melarase creams.

Ariel Ostad, MD · Answer

Hi Jody,

Once
hyperpigmentation or erythema has formed (such as the pink you are
experiencing), fading creams to lighten the skin are
necessary such as alpha hydroxy acids, hydroquinone or azeleic acid.Beta
hydroxy acids (often noted at salicylic acid on labels), work as a chemical
exfoliant and can help slough off dead skin to fade discoloration. Retinol
creams can also help fade skin, however, but be sure to stay out of the sun
when using retinol creams as it makes the skin more likely to damage which
could make scarring worse.

You can also try OTC Mederma Scar
treatment which you can do at home. Mederma’s key active ingredient is onion
extract. The idea behind onion extract is that the anti-inflammatory and other
properties of the onion help scars heal smoother. There have been many
scientific studies conducted on the onion extract and Mederma to see if they
improve the healing of scars, and final results are still uncertain.  BUT,
many scientists conclude that Mederma does in fact help scars because it has
petroleum jelly in it, which helps to lock the moisture in for the scar to
heal. Finally, you should always remember to put sunscreen on your face as Sun damage will just make scars worse
so SPF all year round is a good lifestyle tip to encourage scars to fade.  It is possible that over a year your
depression will improve spontaneously. 
In the future it is best to remove facial nevi with sutures to avoid
indentation.  In terms of dermatologic treatments, many Lasers such as fraxel can be
extremely effective in reducing redness related to scarring and improve the
depression with no downtime. Hope this helps and good luck!

Dr. Ariel Ostad

3 months post op, how can I fill in the scar left after a mole removal?

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