How to Fade Scars From Chemical Burns

Chemical burns can occur in a number of different ways. While some may associate chemical burns with scalding, scarring acid, you can develop a chemical burn scar in your daily life fairly easily. Some topical skin medications and treatments, particularly those obtained through a prescription, can create light burns on the skin that leave scarring. Even treatments like chemical peels, which are intended to eliminate scars residing on the top of your skin, can leave a burn scar if applied improperly. Fortunately, most burn scars do not extend deep into the skin and can be easily faded through several different methods.

Use a chemical peel to eliminate the burn scar. Even if you received the scar from a chemical peel, you can still fade the scar through properly applying a chemical peel, which usually consists of glycolic acid, onto the skin. Some people may be hesitant to use this method if a chemical peel caused the initial burn scar, but in almost all cases, chemical peel burns are the result of a non-professional application.

Visit a doctor or dermatologist to receive a chemical peel safely and have the top-layers of your skin removed so you can burn off scar tissue and encourage the growth of healthy skin cells to replace it.

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Use a dermabrasion treatment to remove the top of the scar, fading its appearance. Dermabrasion works in a similar way to a chemical peel, although there is a longer recovery period of about one week, according to the American Academy of Dermatology 2. This treatment uses a hard object to skim off the top of your skin, shedding scar tissue along with it.

Receive a scar-revision treatment from a doctor or dermatologist. Scar revision can work in several ways. One method is using high-energy light to remove or reshape damaged skin. This has a one-week recovery period, though the skin may retain a pink shade for several months, according to the American Academy of Dermatology 2. Yellow-light treatments can also reduce redness or raised surfaces that develop from a chemical burn.

Multiple scar-revision treatments may be needed to reach its full effect, and this can be a costly option.

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Receive an invasive surgery to cut out the scar tissue and sew up your skin. This is the last option for many people, since surgery often leaves a scar of its own, but for deep burns, this can be an effective, if costly, approach.