Is there anything I can do to improve the appearance of scalded skin/scars caused by boiling water?

Question

I scalded my chest with hot water as a 3 year old and have been scarred ever since. I last visited a surgeon 15 yeas ago who told me there's nothing that can be done to improve the appearance of the scars as the skin on my chest is so thin ( granted I weighed a lot less in my teens) ... I had a steroid injection in my chest around that time to flatten the scars. But since then nothing. I am now in my early 30ss. Can anything be done?

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photograph.  I am attaching a link to some conservative measures at minimizing a scar's appearance which should be able to make subtle improvements in your scar's appearance.  There are a series of laser treatments that can also be done to improve the appearance and you may want to check to see if you are close to a burn center that performs these as they can occasionally be covered by insurance.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Plato's Scar Serum, fractional laser, Clear and Brilliant, intralesional injections, and pulsed dye laser can all help improve your chest scars. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian Los Angeles

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Best to see a derma for laser therapies. Otherwise sunscreen a must !!!.....................................

Is there anything I can do to improve the appearance of scalded skin/scars caused by boiling water?

Answers (3)

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Is there anything I can do to improve the appearance of scalded skin/scars caused by boiling water?

Answers (3)

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