The very lasers that dermatologists have in their practices to treat wrinkles, acne scars and pigmented lesions have the power to rehabilitate the most disfiguring of burns and other scars.
Miami, Fla., dermatologist Jill Waibel, M.D., spoke on using lasers for trauma rehabilitation at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference (Orlando, Fla., January 2016), and was honored during that meeting with a Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD)Humanitarian Award for her work in using lasers to treat patients with traumatic burn injuries.
Dr. Waibel, assistant voluntary faculty at University of Miami and chief of dermatology at Baptist Hospital, in Miami, says dermatologists who look beyond the use of lasers in the traditional cosmetic sense have the power to make incredible differences in the lives of burn and trauma patients.
The goal of scar therapy is the restoration of the patient to his or her pre-injury state. The surgery not only improves severe scars, but also relieves severe contractures and improves contour abnormalities, according to Dr. Waibel’s presentation.
Treat early to avoid scarring
There’s no question — whether it’s a shark bite or a burn — scars are going to form after a serious trauma, according to Dr. Waibel.
“So, why would you wait and start treating?” she says. “We have seen that early intervention makes the scars almost go away before they form. It’s really powerful.”
 
Read More: Dermatology Times
 
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