Medical Journal Research
Psychological stress is a well-established inhibitor of wound healing, yet its specific impact on scar treatment efficacy remains underexplored. Given the significance of collagen synthesis in wound healing and various advanced scar treatments, an investigation into the impact of psychological stress on these processes is warranted. This review examines the biological mechanisms of wound healing and collagen formation, focusing on how psychological stress disrupts these pathways and impacts scar treatment outcomes. Current literature indicates that psychological stress impairs collagen production and reduces the efficacy of scar treatments. These findings underscore the importance of integrating stress management into scar treatment protocols and highlight the need for further research into combined physiological and psychological approaches to optimize healing.
A Comprehensive Review of Non-Surgical Treatments for Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars in Skin of Color
Hypertrophic and keloid scars are fibroproliferative growths resulting from aberrant wound healing. Individuals with Fitzpatrick skin types (FSTs) IV–VI are particularly predisposed to hypertrophic and keloid scarring, yet specific guidelines for these populations are still lacking within the literature. Therefore, this comprehensive review provides a list of various treatments and considerations for hypertrophic and keloid scarring in patients with skin of color. We constructed a comprehensive PubMed search term and performed quadruple-blinded screening on all resulting studies to achieve this objective. Our findings demonstrate 1) the lack of efficacious treatments for raised scars within this population and 2) the need to empirically investigate individualized and multimodal therapeutic options for those with skin of color.
Post-acne scarring is a common consequence of acne vulgaris with no universal cure. Although there have been many recent advances to address acne scars physically, there is still a lack of research that investigates their psychosocial impacts. Our comprehensive PubMed search presents an overview of existing information to highlight known sources of mental distress caused by post-acne scarring, both related to and independent of the psychosocial detriments caused early on by active acne. The literature indicates that acne scarring is a distinct condition from acne vulgaris and therefore requires a comprehensive clinical approach unique from those available for active acne.
Subcutaneous incisionless surgery, also known as subcision, is a minimally invasive procedure that is commonly indicated for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. In recent years, many new techniques have been developed to maximize results from this procedure. This review article aims to identify an updated list of instruments and combinatorial treatments available for atrophic acne scar patients undergoing subcision. We constructed a comprehensive PubMed search term and performed triple-blinded screening on all resulting studies for mentions of subcision as indicated by acne scarring. Our results show that there are four main categories of subcision tools that are commonly employed to treat atrophic acne scars: needles, cannulas, wires, and blunt-blade instruments. Usage of these devices varies by scar depth, personal preference, and combinatorial treatment options. Overall, subcision is a particularly effective treatment for atrophic acne scars, and there is vast potential for further innovation with this technique.
Scarring is a dire consequence of acne vulgaris. Particularly, atrophic acne scarring is highly prevalent among young adults, and its physical and psychological effects can persist throughout their lives if left untreated. This literature review will analyze various non-energy-based approaches to treating atrophic acne scarring, emphasizing recent advances within the last 5 to 10 years. To accomplish this, we performed a PubMed search for various acne scar treatments such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, subcision, microneedling, punch techniques, dermal fillers, and thread lifting. Our findings and analysis show that there is no panacean solution to treating atrophic acne scars, which explains the evolving trend towards developing unique combinatorial treatments. Although a fair comparison of each treatment approach is difficult to achieve due to the studies’ varying sample sizes, strength of evidence, treatment execution, etc, there still remains a level of consensus on what treatments are well suited for particular scar types.
Our Areas of Research and Innovation
The Scar Healing Institute is committed to being a leading pioneer of research and innovation for scar treatment and understanding.
Our research branch is actively engaged with finding the newest medications, technologies, and methods to revise scar tissue.
Our interests are in:
- Acne
- Acne Scars
- Surgical Scars
- Keloid Scars
- Hypertrophic Scars
- Burn Scars
- Hyperpigmentation
- Stretch Marks
- Facial Volume Loss
- Facial Wrinkles
- Skin Texture Problems
- Laser Treatment
- Dermabrasion
- Fat Grafting
- Subcision
- Peptide Therapy
- Chemical Treatment and CROSS