A valley scar is a depression in the skin caused by a loss of volume at the site of the scar.
Essentially, it's a scar that creates a visible indentation or "valley" in the skin's surface. This occurs because the underlying tissues and collagen have been damaged or lost during the healing process. Fibrous bands can also pull the skin down, exacerbating the sunken appearance.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:
- Volume Loss: The primary characteristic of a valley scar is a reduction in the amount of tissue beneath the skin at the scar site.
- Depressed Appearance: This volume loss results in a visible indentation or depression.
- Underlying Cause: It often stems from injury, surgery, or skin conditions like acne, where inflammation and tissue damage occur.
- Fibrous Bands: Bands of scar tissue can form beneath the skin, tethering it down and pulling it inwards, contributing to the valley-like appearance.
Treatment Options
One common treatment for valley scars is subcision. Subcision involves using a needle to break up the fibrous bands that are pulling down on the skin, with the aim of releasing the tension and allowing the skin to lift and improve the volume defect.
