Dr. Pickart

What products can I use on my lower lip to remove an actinic keratosis? My plastic surgeon wants to remove surgically and I am concerned about scarring. I foolishly let him remove one from my cheek and now have a 1/2 inch scar I am using CPs and emu oil to remove.

I think virtually any scar can be removed with fairly natural methods. Under the right conditions, the skin seems to extrude scars and other unneeded blemishes.

Since it is no the lip, you have to be more gentle.

This is our general advice on scar reduction. Just stick to the more gentle aspects of this advice. Use Trireduction and some type of abrasion to loosen scar tissue.

We think almost any skin blemish (scars and pitted scars, keratosis,
skin tags, moles, age spots, sun damage, stretch marks, warts,
hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, white scars, discoloration) can
be reduced or removed with a combination of hydroxy acids, skin
abrasion, and Skin Remodeling Copper Peptides (SRCPs).

The hydroxy acids and abrasive methods slowly loosen and dissolve the
blemish tissue and the SRCPs help the rebuilding of new skin.(Caution:
This advice applies only to normal skin blemishes. Any skin blemish that
appears dark, irregular, or bleeds should be promptly checked by a
dermatologist.)

Scar reduction is a balancing act of scar removal and rebuilding skin.
Too rapid removal of scar tissue and you get a hole in your skin and
too little scar removal and there is no progress. In the past,
dermatologists often observed that strong hydroxy acids, and other
methods like the use of liquid nitrogen on blemishes, would remove the
skin blemishes but subsequent skin irritations limited the use of these
methods.

Skin may look worse for a time during scar reduction. Some deep scars
such as from acne are covered over with a layer of good skin but as
the buried scar tissue is pushed to the surface, it becomes
noticeable. Often, one has to first get the skin into a healthier
condition and then focus on removing the scars. More SRCPs makes skin
healthier, more hydroxy acids remove tissue. The method is slow but
usually works and has no downside.

We find that repeated use of moderate strength hydroxy acid, followed
by the use of SRCPs, usually removes skin blemishes without excess
skin irritation.

The SRCPs are usually rubbed into the scar area in the morning and the
Hydroxy acid product rubbed in at night. Stronger hydroxy acids and our
stronger SRCPs work faster but irritation can sometimes be a problem
with the stronger products. Sometimes, people also use retinoic acid
(Retin-A or Renova) along with the hydroxy acids to speed scar removal.
The products should be used every day.

Some people with severe scars have had good results by applying the
products four times daily a hydroxy acid at 8 am, a SRCP at noon, a
hydroxy acid at 5 PM, and a SRCP before bedtime. You should see an
improvement in a month but some old scars such as stretch marks and
keloid scars may take 6 to 8 months to slowly
remove. Slower is better in scar reduction.

1.If you are under 30, have acne in the scar area, or have rosacea,
then use Super CP Serum in the morning and LacSal Serum at night.
Start the products lightly - 1 drop of each daily then slowly
increase the amount used.

2.If acne is not a problem, then use TriReduction Cream in
the morning and LacSal cream at night.

3.If you are not getting enough effect, then try Super Cop or Super
Cop 2X Extra Strength Extra which are our strongest SRCP but can cause
itching. If it itches, you can wash it off with warm water. Skin
slowly adapts to the Super Cops but this can take some time.
Usually Super CP Serum is applied lightly in the AM ( 3-4 drops to the
entire face) and concentrated specifically on your areas of concern. A
Super Cop Cream (or Super Cop 2X) can be used as a spot treatment once
a day very lightly. You can even work it into the skin with a flat
toothpick.

4.Some clients report good results after applying Super CP Serum,
letting it dry for a short time, then applying LacSal Cream over the
Super CP Serum.

5. If you still are not getting a good enough effect, then replace our
hydroxys with a 30% glycolic acid or lactic acid product. There are
links to sellers of these at www.scar-reduction.com or
www.skinbiology.com/resellers.html. For difficult lesions, like age
spots, the salicylic acids (about 12% salicylic acid) used for wart
and callus removal often work well - drugstores have these.

6. Skin color usually reverts to its pre-damage color.

7. Blemish reduction can be further accelerated by skin abrasion with
exfoliating washclothes (microdermabrasion cloths), pumice stones,
abrasive pads, or microdermabrasion kits such as those used to remove
calluses. Flat toothpicks can loosen pitted scar tissue. Subcision
with needles is often also used to break up hard or fat containing scar
tissue in depressed scars such as after cystic acne.

A product called Dermaroller (roller with needles) is often reported to
work well with our copper peptides. It is available on Internet.

8.Using Retinoic acid (Renova or Retin-A) with SRCPs often produces
faster scar reduction. Use 0.25% to 0.50% retinoic acid creams which
are strong.

9.Daily supplements of 1 gram vitamin C, 1 gram MSM, and 1 gram each
of either flaxseed oil, borage oil, or primrose oil also help skin
rebuilding.

10.Stress inhibits skin repair and the rate of scar reduction by
increasing blood cortisol. Taking 75 to 100 mgs daily of DHEA during
periods of high stress may help block the cortisol effect and
stimulate skin repair.

11.Regular aerobic exercise floods more blood into the skin and
speeds skin repair and scar reduction.

12. There is more information at www.scar-reduction.com.

Thank you Dr. Pickart. I will treat it as a scar.

an eczema home remedy can be found at eczema-free.org