Would Fraxel help reduce the overall appearance of a 5 year old scar? (Photos)

Question

I have a scar on my forehead from a chemical burn about 5 years ago that has since faded into a white, smooth scar. I understand that it’ll be difficult/not possible to restore the lost pigment to the scar, but do I have other options to reduce the overall appearance?

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Hypopigmented scars are quire common. When the scar is simply hypopigmented (and there is little to no Indentation or elevation), I have found the use of professionally performed, Dermastamp Microneedling (no need for the added expense or risks for adverse reactions from RF microneedling) accompanied by the topical application of Rx pigment enhancing agents, such topical tyrosine and latanoprost, to be quite effective for stimulating repigmentation. Typically between two to six (on average three to four) treatment sessions are required to achieve optimal results. Exercise a great deal of buyer beware caution when offered light and energy-based treatments, since the hard science to back up the use ot these expensive treatments lags well behind the heavy marketing hype and social media buzz to hawk them.  You would be wise to consult with an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist scar treatment specialist and best of luck.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Yes, Fraxel may be a good option, but it's important to have realistic expectations about what it can and cannot do.

Since your scar is about five years old, smooth, and has become white (hypopigmented), it's considered a mature scar. At this stage, the goal isn't to erase it completely, but rather to make it blend in better with the surrounding skin by improving its texture and softening the edges.

Fraxel can be particularly helpful because it creates tiny columns of controlled injury in the skin, stimulating collagen remodeling. This can sometimes improve the texture and make the transition between the scar and the surrounding skin less noticeable. However, Fraxel is much more effective at improving texture than it is at restoring lost pigment. A white scar often remains lighter than the surrounding skin, even after successful laser treatments.

Depending on the scar's characteristics, other treatments may also be considered. For example:

Microneedling can help remodel collagen and soften the appearance of the scar.
If there is any depression or contour irregularity, a small amount of filler may improve the overall appearance.
Medical tattooing (micropigmentation) is sometimes used for stable white scars to better match the surrounding skin tone.
In select cases, other laser treatments may be combined with resurfacing to achieve the best cosmetic result.

Looking at your photos, your scar appears relatively flat and well-healed, which is encouraging. Those types of scars often respond better to treatments aimed at improving texture than thick or raised scars do.

The encouraging part is that scars continue to be treatable even years after they occur. While you may not be able to make it disappear entirely, there are several options that can help make it much less noticeable. Often, the best results come from combining treatments rather than relying on a single procedure.

Would Fraxel help reduce the overall appearance of a 5 year old scar? (Photos)

Answers (2)

More Fraxel Repair Questions

Will Fraxel help these dark spots? (Photo)

Can Fraxel Repair fix the lumps under my mouth or would C02 be a better option? (Photos)

Which laser do I need to repair previous deep fraxel laser scars from 7 years ago? (Photos)

Can Fraxel help minimize the appearance of a cobblestoned hair transplant? (photo)

How do I get my eyes to heal after Fraxel Repair 3 months ago? (Photos)

Hormonal acne left behind dark spots - what cosmetic procedure will get rid of them? (photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS