Search Skin Biology
Scar Reduction with Hydroxy Acids, Abrasion, Needling and Copper Peptides
 |
Methods for the reduction of scars and skin blemishes are usually marginally effective, painful, expensive, and often produce further scars during the procedure.
The combination of hydroxy acids, abrasion, needling, amd copper peptides often produce surprisingly effective reduction of the appearances of various scars and skin blemishes. This method is low cost, painless, but may take several months to achieve a good cosmetic result.
Hydroxy acids, such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid, are widely used as exfoliating agents and for skin peels. They remove dead skin cells and also loosen and slowly dissolve skin lesions such as acne scars, keloid scars, surgical scars, burn scars, moles, skin tags, stretch marks, age spots, and sun damage marks.
The secret of hydroxy acid actions is that your healthy, normal skin is very tough and has a high resistance to such acids. In contrast, most skin lesions have less structural integrity and are more easily broken down by the acids. The repeated use of such acids over periods of a month or longer slowly dissolves most skin lesions. This is essentially a modification of normal skin peel techniques where a very strong hydroxy acid (or other peeling agents such as TCA or phenol) are used as skin peels. Such methods work very well under perfect circumstances. However, hydroxy acids can be highly irritating if the subsequent regenerative response of the skin is inadequate to fully heal the acid-treated skin. If there is too little skin rebuilding, then the peeling agent may cause further scarring or inflammation.
The use of Copper-Peptides after hydroxy acids, abrasion, and needling supplies the skin with nutritional copper. Studies on wound healing found that that tissue copper rises during the healing process. But if the level of tissue copper is too low, then healing is impaired and scars remain on the wound. So, by repeated application of a hydroxy acid, you can slowly dissolve away the skin blemish and use Copper-Peptides to aid the skin's functions. This process is repeated once daily or twice daily and an improvement should be noted in a month, but obtaining a cosmetically satisfying result may take several months. Going slow is better than trying to rush the process. Skin can only rebuild so fast.
This method can also be used with traditional skin renewal methods such as lasers, deep peels, and dermabrasion. These more vigorous procedures rapidly remove any scar tissue. But subsequent problems arise if the skin fails to heal rapidly. This can produce inflamed, reddish skin for up to a year before healing is complete. In this case, supplying the skin with nutritional copper can facilitate the skin post-procedure recovery.
Featured Topics
Skin Remodeling is the Key to Scar Reduction
The removal or reduction of scars, lesions, and stretch marks from the skin depends on a process called "skin remodeling". The skin is designed to heal wounds quickly to prevent blood loss and infection.
Scars are manufactured from a rapidly formed "collagen glue" that the body deposits into an injured area for protection and strength. In ideal skin healing, the wounded skin is rapidly closed, then the healed area is slowly reconstructed to remove the residual collagen scars and blend the skin area into nearby skin.
Scar collagen is removed and replaced with a mixture of skin cells and invisible collagen fibers. This skin remodeling may continue in a skin area for ten years. In children the remodeling rate is high and scars are usually rapidly removed from injured skin areas.
But as we reach adulthood, this rate diminishes and small scars may remain for years. One way to accelerate remodeling is to induce a small amount of controlled skin damage with a needle, laser, or other means, and then let the body repair processes rebuild the skin area.
Skin Remodeling, Scar Reduction, and Copper-Peptides
Research studies find that adequate tissue copper helps the process of skin remodeling by activating your skin's metalloproteinases that remove damaged proteins (sun as sun-damaged collagen and elastin) and scars. At the same time they help activate your skin's anti-proteases TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 that protect against excessive breakdown of protein. (Simeon et al, Life Sciences, 15, 2257-2265, 2000). They also reduce the skin's protection of the scar-producing factor TGF-beta. Interestingly, retinoic acid (retin-A) is often used for scar reduction but retinoic acid actually increases the production of the scar-producing TGF-beta. (McCormack, Nowak and Koch, Arch Plast Surg 3:28-32, 2001).
Animal studies suggest that increased copper also helps to (1) regenerate new collagen and elastin which improve skin firmness and elasticity, (2) increase the production of water holding glycosaminoglycans which is true moisturization, (3) improve the skin’s blood vessel microcirculation, (4) produce biochemical energy from nutrients in the body’s blood supply, (5) increase the natural defense mechanism against oxidative damage, and (6) repair damage to the protective skin barrier. For scientific references on these effects see: Copper-Peptide Regeneration.
As the skin is rebuilt and scars removed, the elastic properties of the skin pull it into a smooth surface.
Skin Exfoliation Using Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid
A famous dermatologist, the late Dr. Albert Kligman, said that BHAs (in particular salicylic) at concentrations of about 2% are better than AHAs for anti-aging and for skin exfoliation. Professor Kligman is well known in dermatology for his research on the anti-aging actions of retinoic acid (Retin-A). Results from Dr. Kligman's laboratory found that the outermost stratum corneum layer is renewed after applications of salicylic acid.
The BHA hydroxy acid loosens the damaged skin proteins and the Copper-Peptides help in the removal of the old, damaged proteins.
If you have allergies to salicylates (such as you cannot eat fruit), we recommend you obtain a alpha hydroxy acid (10% and at pH 4 or below).
On the other hand, many women say that Lactic Acid, which is naturally on your skin at low levels, is easier on their skin. Lactic acid up to 10% is fairly mild on skin. But lactic acids of 30 to 70% are used for skin peels.
When Scars Are Resistant
Stronger hydroxy acids will speed the scar reduction process. However, this increases the possibility of irritation or burns. 30% to 70% alpha hydroxy acids are effective but you should use these under the direction of a dermatologist or esthetician. Such stronger hydroxy acids can be obtained from Estheticians and Dermatologists at Spas and Clinics.
 |
Comparison of Scar and Lesion Reduction Methods
METHOD |
COST |
ADVANTAGES |
TIME TO SEE IMPROVEMENT |
|
Copper-Peptide Products (plus hydroxy acids, abrasion, & needling) |
$30 to $60 |
Low Cost Ease of Use |
One month |
Mild skin irritation |
Salicylic Acid |
$30 to 60 |
Low Cost Ease of Use |
One month |
Mild skin irritation |
Retinoic Acid |
$100 to $300 ($50 to $100 products, $50 to $200 dermatologist appointment) |
Low Cost Ease of Use |
One month |
Skin irritation can be severe |
Plastic Sheets |
$100 to $400 for plastic sheets - $200 for dermatologist appointment |
No pain |
Two to four months |
Modest results Takes months |
Scar Subcision |
$300 to $1,000 dermatologist costs |
Often works on severe localized scars |
Two to four months |
|
Laser Resurfacing |
$1,000 to $4,000 |
Good with skilled dermatologist |
Two to four months |
Painful local pigmentation, More scarring |
Deep Chemical Peels |
$500 to $3,000 |
Good with skilled dermatologist |
Two to four months |
Painful local pigmentation, More scarring |
Series of Milder Chemical Peels Needed |
$1,000 to $5,000 Very good results with experienced dermatologist |
Two to four months |
Less problems than deep chemical peels |
|
Dermabrasion |
$1,000 to $3,000 |
Good with skilled dermatologist, Sometimes good for deep scars |
Two to four months |
Painful local pigmentation, More scarring Possible skin Infection |
 |
Questions or Advice?
Email Dr. Loren Pickart: drlorenpickart@gmail.com
Call us at 1-800-405-1912 Monday through Friday (8 am to 6 pm) PST