Medical Glycolic Acid possible treatment for scar tissue?

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Glycolic Acid is being considered as a treatment for scar tissue due to its ability to exfoliate and potentially restructure the skin by breaking down binding lipids. While it may be effective for superficial scars, such as acne scars, its efficacy on deeper scars is debated, as these may lack the necessary skin layers for regeneration. Excessive use of Glycolic Acid can lead to complications, including separation of the dermis from the epidermis. The discussion also touches on the need for a deeper understanding of its limitations and the potential role of other substances like hyaluronic acid and retinol in scar treatment. Overall, the effectiveness of Glycolic Acid for deeper scars remains uncertain and warrants further exploration.
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Glycolic Acid possible treatment for scar tissue?

I'm looking into possible treatments for scarred tissue. One substance I have come across is Glycolic Acid. It is used extensively in cosmetic creams and skin peels in a <10% concentration and is used for deep tissue skin peels by dermatologists in >10% concentration. The essential activity incurred is the breaking down of the binding lipids which in turn releases dead skin cells from the surface layers of the epidermis. As it is to my understanding, the same activity can occur deeper inside the tissue also allowing for restructuring of the skin in the process reducing wrinkles and creating softer skin. Could this be an effective means of reworking scarred tissue?
 
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rebeka said:
I'm looking into possible treatments for scarred tissue. One substance I have come across is Glycolic Acid. It is used extensively in cosmetic creams and skin peels in a <10% concentration and is used for deep tissue skin peels by dermatologists in >10% concentration. The essential activity incurred is the breaking down of the binding lipids which in turn releases dead skin cells from the surface layers of the epidermis. As it is to my understanding, the same activity can occur deeper inside the tissue also allowing for restructuring of the skin in the process reducing wrinkles and creating softer skin. Could this be an effective means of reworking scarred tissue?
It is simply exfoliating the top layer of skin cells, which can lighten the scar, perhaps making the scar less noticeable.
 


Actually as is to my understanding excessive use of this product can lead to separation of the dermis from the epidermis. It is a powerful agent not to be played with.... Regardless I was hoping for a more detailed discussion into why it wouldn't be effective. Perhaps because the lipids are less present in scar tissue as there maybe an excess of T-III Collagen or something crazy like that :) !
 


It depends on what type of scar you are trying to heal. I think glycolic acid peels are used mostly for facial blemishes such as acne scars. These scars are usually very superficial and involve a thin layer of dead skin cells and collagen. Glycolic acid would work for most superficial scars but not for anything much deeper than the epidermis.

It is used in medium and deeper peeling but there are severe complications.
 


Yes, and this is what I'm interested in discussing, the complications and the inhibitions in using glycolic acid as an effective method of reducing or treating deep tissue scars. I'm not looking for a method of dealing with my scars, of which I have a few of varying types! I'm really hoping to have a not so brief conversation on the logical use or avoidance of use of this substance in dealing with scar tissue. We could call it a disinterested pursuit of knowledge! I'm also interested in the effects of hyaluronic acid, collagen, beta hydroxy acids, retinol it's just something I'm trying to learn about... Is this not a discussion forum, I seem to be abbreviated every time I try to have a conversation of personal interest.
 


rebeka said:
Is this not a discussion forum, I seem to be abbreviated every time I try to have a conversation of personal interest.
Could be that no one else is that interested in it.
 


rebeka said:
Yes, and this is what I'm interested in discussing, the complications and the inhibitions in using glycolic acid as an effective method of reducing or treating deep tissue scars. I'm not looking for a method of dealing with my scars, of which I have a few of varying types! I'm really hoping to have a not so brief conversation on the logical use or avoidance of use of this substance in dealing with scar tissue. We could call it a disinterested pursuit of knowledge! I'm also interested in the effects of hyaluronic acid, collagen, beta hydroxy acids, retinol it's just something I'm trying to learn about... Is this not a discussion forum, I seem to be abbreviated every time I try to have a conversation of personal interest.

I think it's a good question...I just don't have any answers beyond those already given. That might be the problem too, just that it's a question without anyone with an answer here.

I doubt anything applied topically is going to help a deep tissue scar (i.e., a surgical scar) simply because it goes so deep that there's nothing left there beneath it for good, normal skin to grow on, but I don't know how legit or not any of these products are for more minor scars (such as the acne scars mentioned above).
 

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