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 The main cause of leg scars is injury to the skin. When the skin injuries are treated by medicines or surgery, the affected area may develop scars during the healing process and may remain as such in the later periods. The other underlying causes of scars include acne, burns, punctures, infections, superficial scratches, mosquito bites, bug bites, and tattoos etc. Leg scars may be embarrassing for some.

Leg scars are developed when the tissue lining of the skin breaks, producing a natural protein called collagen. This happens in case of a wound, infection, or injury. The secreted collagen assists in the healing of the wound of the skin and forms scars as a byproduct. In some cases, scars are less noticeable, while in other cases, they may grow and spread. The size of the scar depends on the type and extent of the leg skin injury and also the environmental, genetic, and nutritional conditions.

Leg scars can be classified into various types depending upon the size, shape and orientation of the elevated tissue. Acne scars develop as an after effect of healing of acne. Contracture scars generally occur after a burn skin injury. These may affect mobility due to abnormal tightening of the leg skin. Hypertrophic scars develop as reddish lumps over the wounded area. Keloid scars develop as a result of excess production of collagen during the healing process. These scars may extend beyond the wounded area, and may turn tumorous in some cases. Atrophic scars are small-sized and occur as a result of loss of muscle and the fat tissues. These are usually seen in case of acne and chicken pox.

The effective treatment and removal of the leg scars depend on various factors like the cause of scars, size and location, and the duration of the scars. The various treatment options used to get rid of scars on legs are punch excision, subcission, laser resurfacing, rearrangement, microneedling, injection of steroids, cryotherapy, chemical peels, pulsed-dye lasers and hydroquinone bleaching creams, etc. A well experienced dermatologist can guide the patient with the best scar removal option based on the specific conditions. Some home remedies to cover up leg scars are to apply honey or sandalwood water on the scars. These two components are known to lighten up the scars; however, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist before trying these out.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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