› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Scar treatment for WLE
- This topic has 7 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 6 months ago by
gopher38.
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- April 29, 2021 at 9:04 am
I have 3 WLE scars and feel self conscious about them. Has anyone had any effective scar treatments? Do lasers work or are they not a good idea?I know it’s just scars and I do feel fortunate that I was cured through them, but being a youngest female it’s hard being so scarred up
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- April 29, 2021 at 8:19 pm
Hi Danielle,Sorry that you have had to deal with melanoma, but so thankful you are currently well. I am also sorry for the discomfort your scars cause. I understand. I had my first surgical scars at age 39. I now have more than 20. I don’t love them. But, as you acknowledge, we’re still here! Here’s some info that you may find helpful ~
- Do lasers help in diminishing scars? Well – it’s plus minus. It depends on the scar tissue, the color of your skin, the skill of the person using the laser. Here is a report addressing laser use for scars: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325762
- Do lasers increase risk of melanoma? Some say absolutely not. Some say yes it does – but depends on the type of laser used. There is this report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5653718/ This article notes: ” The existing evidence base of over 25 years of laser and IPL use to date has not raised any concerns regarding its long-term safety with only a few anecdotal cases of melanoma post treatment over two decades of use; therefore, there is no evidence to suggest that there is a credible cancer risk. Although laser and IPL technology has not been known to cause skin cancer, this does not mean that laser and IPL therapies are without long-term risks.”
- I think the bigger risk comes from “hiding” lesions as is explained in this report: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/10/04/laser-skin-treatment-cancer-risk/
If you decide to explore laser therapy, be sure to seek a provider who employs it often for the specific treatment of surgical scars (use in hair removal and other things is not the same) and ask lots of questions.
I have written about the mixed feelings my scars engender. Here is one such post with a link to another within: https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2019/05/sew-chaotically-cute-linen-top-and.html
Most of all, as I said in the post – this sentiment is what I have settled on ~
…there is this beautiful paragraph from: Little Bee, by Chris Cleave
“On the girl’s brown legs there were many small white scars. I was thinking, Do those scars cover the whole of you, like the stars and the moons on your dress? I thought that would be pretty too, and I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived.”
Hope this helps. I wish you my best. celeste
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- May 1, 2021 at 10:12 am
Scars are your History! Be proud of them.. :good:-
- November 9, 2021 at 6:30 pm
I apologize for not responding to you sooner. I appreciate you taking so much time to answer my question. I go back and forth between being so frustrated with my scars to being thankful. Your words and knowledge are very much appreciated.
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- May 2, 2021 at 2:21 am
The silicone scar gel like Mederma + time have worked well for. My gigantic nine inch neck WLE is almost unnoticeable five years later. My oncologist at the time was a fine surgeon and nothing he removed is particularly noticeable. I have fair skin and generally don’t scar terribly. They will get better. My gnarly stapled head wounds are hidden by my hair. They are terrible but I don’t care. -
- May 3, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Hi Danielle –I had a particularly nasty scar on my lower leg after a WLE for in-situ and opted for laser treatment.
They tend to leave lower leg WLE’s open (no stitches so the wound heals from an open/unstitched state). This scar was about the size of a nickel with a distinct depression into my skin. I recently completed 3 Fraxel laser treatments from a laser specialist who works in a highly respected skin cancer and derm clinic. The results are impressive.
If you go this route, note that the scar will look worse before it gets better because the scar and the area around it will be darkened, like a dark purple bruise, for 1-3 months.
I also find silicone scar strips work great and feel very comfortable.
Megan
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- August 8, 2022 at 1:56 pm
I have had four (and two basel cell) and they never bothered me at all. Now, if you had something on an eyelid or ear, etc, then I wouldn’t have been happy, but on the torso or limb, I’d just go with it. I can’t image anyone worth his salt that make any judgement in any domain based on that. One of my basel cell operations was ~ 3weeks ago, and it is up near my right eye. I’ve had many people ask about that. I say basel cell carcinoma, and that’s that.That said, in addituon to laser, I know there’s something like a little sandpaper grinder to smooth out the skin. You might ask about that
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