Burn Scars Information

Saying Goodbye to Burn Scars

Burn scars are very traumatic and can severely affect self-esteem and quality of life. Moving on from burn injuries can be very stressful, and reducing the appearance of burn scars is the first step in healing. Getting the proper burn scars information helps get you started on the path to feeling better about yourself and also helps you begin a fresh new life with better looking skin.

Burn scars leave marks on the skin that can be hard to deal with, and you may have a hard time going out in public or socializing with friends. Many people who suffer from these marks only avoid others because they don’t want to answer questions about the initial injuries. The good news is burn scars can be treated with several effective treatments. Reducing their appearance can help you say goodbye to burn scars and increase your confidence and quality of life.

Time to Heal Burn Scars

Burn scars can be treated over time, but this depends on how severe the burn was and how long it has been since the original injury. The more time that passes after a burn injury occurs, the harder it is to heal the scar.

If a burn scar is old, it will take a long period of time to heal. Starting treatment as soon as the injury occurs dramatically reduces the time needed to fade the scar. There are many different treatments that can effectively fade and reduce the appearance of burn scars.

Tips for Treating Burn Scars

It is possible to treat burn scars with over-the-counter scar creams and gels, medical treatments and chemical peels. Consult with a specialist as soon as burn injuries are well healed. A dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon can evaluate the depth of the scar and recommend the best treatment.

If the scarring is severe, the doctor may recommend surgery, laser treatments, drugs, medications, or microdermabrasion to help smooth the skin and restore healthy new skin cells.

Costs vary with the type of procedure and the amount of treatments necessary.
If your scarring is minimal to even moderate, you may be sent home with a recommendation for cost-effective, over-the-counter treatments.

All-Natural Remedies

You can treat mild to moderate burn scars with safe and effective all-natural treatments. When you use natural remedies for burn scars, you can reduce the redness of scar tissue and have healthy looking, smoother skin. These types of treatments have no side effects, and they are relatively inexpensive compared to pricey medical treatments. One popular treatment option is Scarinex. This product has been proven to be very effective in reducing burn scars and many other types of scars.

The most important part of treating burn scars is to begin treatment as soon as possible with a formula that contains healthy nutrients to feed the skin, ingredients to exfoliate and something to increase moisture to the skin and lock it in.

Using the best product yields the best results and helps you recover from burn scars and feel better about yourself.

Laser Treatment

Many people who suffer from severe scars look for ways to remove them. With the numerous scar treatments available, it is often hard to discern which one will work best. Scar removal can dramatically reduce a scar but never completely removes scar tissue. Regardless of how effective scar removal is, people still want invasive scar removal procedures done for cosmetic reasons. Laser treatment is one type of scar removal that can take care of severe scars.

Laser Treatment for Scars

Laser treatment for scar removal can help diminish large scars. Performed by a physician, it is a type of surgery in which a laser is directed at the scar and any tissue surrounding the scar. Since this is an invasive procedure, doctors usually don’t elect to do this treatment unless all other scar removal methods have failed.

Laser treatments are done by a trained professional who points a laser beam at the scarred area.This is a very powerful and focused beam of light energy that sloughs off the outer layer of skin.

After the treatment, the skin appears renewed and softer. With treatments, the new layer of skin will regenerate and fade the scar. Treatment also causes the skin to appear smoother. The laser can help the skin produce collagen and stimulate the healing of scar tissue. It may take a number of laser treatments over time in order to fade the scar. How bad the scar is dictates the number of treatments and the cost of therapy.

Finding Out if you are a Candidate for Laser Treatment

Laser treatments for scar removal are not for everyone. You will have to be evaluated by a doctor, and it depends on the severity of the scarring and your skin color and condition. People who have fair skin tend to have a better experience with laser treatment of scars. Those with dark skin have less luck with this type of treatment.

Some areas are too dark for the skin to heal properly, and some skin conditions, such as dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema, are contradicted in laser treatments due to the risk of skin damage.

Preparing for Laser Treatment Scar Removal

When getting ready for laser treatment scar removal, there are a few things you must do before going to the doctor. Preparations alleviate side effects and complications from the procedure.

At your first appointment, ask the doctor what preparations are required and if any follow-up care is needed. Make sure you understand what medications are allowed before undergoing laser treatment.

It is important to know if any medications can cause complications during the treatment, such as blood thinners, aspirin and other medications that can raise risks. Ask the professional performing the treatment if there is a risk of more scar tissue forming and how effective the treatment for scar removal may be.

This is so you can carefully consider your options before spending a large amount of money. There are times when laser treatment isn’t completely effective in removing all of a scar. You will notice the scar has lightened significantly. It may be much smoother but not completely gone.

Laser treatment for scar removal is a big commitment, and it is really important to try less invasive treatments first and stick with them for as long as you can. If they are not effective enough for your severity of scarring, find out all you can about laser procedures and understand them before you jump in.

Keloid Scars

What Are Keloid Scars?

Keloid scars occur when collagen builds up from too much production of fibrous tissue at the site of an injury. This can be caused by burns, cuts, scrapes, surgery, and superficial body piercings. These types of scars are very pronounced, appearing bumpy and red or pink in color. They can also move outside the wound boundaries and cause pain and itching.

Keloid Or Hypertrophic Scars?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between keloid and hypertrophic scars. It is important to understand the difference because the treatment for each is very different. Knowing exactly whether a scar is hypertrophic or keloid will help you find the best treatment to help clear up your scars. Most injuries leave just a flat scar that is very light in color. When a scar is hypertrophic, it appears very red and thickened. These scars can take up to a year to heal. Because this healing process takes so long, doctors can inject steroids into the scar to help reduce the inflammation that causes them to grow and appear redder. Hypertrophic scars, unlike keloids, usually remain within the boundaries of the original wound.

Keloid scars tend to form after the normal scar at the site and time of injury and continue to grow larger. Keloids can be caused by piercings, injuries, burns and surgery. Picking at pimples can also cause keloid scars. They tend to be ugly in appearance and take on a reddish-pink color. They rise above the skin and feel like rubber. They can also grow beyond the borders of the original wound. People with keloids often complain of itching and pain. You will usually see keloids on the earlobes, shoulders, chest and back.

Tendencies to Develop Keloid Scars

The reasons behind the tendency to develop keloid scars are not completely known. Several studies show there may be a defect in the immune system response that causes it to overreact to wounds.

Anyone can develop keloid scars, but they tend to occur in higher numbers among those with dark skin. Women are also more prone to keloid scars.

How to Prevent Keloid Scars

Preventing the occurrence of keloid scars begins with trying to prevent skin injury. If you have a tendency to develop keloid scarring, avoid surgeries of cosmetic nature or unnecessary body piercings. Also try to prevent injuring the skin as much as possible.

If the skin does receive an injury, place pressure on the wound right away to stop any bleeding. When a wound bleeds, the body will immediately begin sending collagen to the wound to help it close. Applying pressure will help that process along faster. Then flush the wound with cool water and wash it with gentle soap to get rid of any dirt. The wound must be kept clean, dry, and bandaged to prevent bacteria from getting in and causing infection. The most effective wound covering is a silicone gel that forms a moisture barrier on the skin and keeps moisture in and bacteria out.

Scar Removal

Removing Scars

When an injury is severe and the wound is not properly cared for, scars can develop into a severe form of scarring known as keloid scars. These need an aggressive, quick form of scar removal before they become larger.

Severe or keloid scars can be caused by piercings, surgical incisions, injuries, and burns. They can really cause self-esteem issues because of their large size and color. They can also be painful or itchy. People with severe scars seek out treatment or some type of scar removal. There are some home therapies as well as some medical treatments available to help treat these scars and reduce their impact on your appearance. The home remedies are safe, but always check with your physician or surgeon before using any treatments.

Silicone-Based Gels

Silicone-based gels can be very effective in scar removal. The popular product Scarinex can help fade the appearance of unsightly scars and allow the skin to heal and regenerate. Silicone gels form a moisture barrier that can reduce redness and smooth the scar tissue. This type of product is very safe, and silicone has been used for many years in the medical community.

Surgical Scar Removal

Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons can use surgical scar removal for stubborn scars. They always recommend trying home treatment first, since surgery is invasive and costly. They use an electric scalpel or laser to cut off excess scar tissue and allow new tissue to grow. This procedure can cause pain and possible infection, and some severe scars can regrow.

Usually, the surgeon attempts to cut out the scar and suture the skin back together in a smaller line than the previous scar. Scar removal surgery may not be covered by insurance since it is cosmetic, and there is recovery time associated with it.

Scar Sheeting

This type of scar removal involves placing a silicone-based pressure bandage over the scar tissue. This is generally a moisture barrier that holds in moisture while the skin heals on its own. There are no extra ingredients to help nourish the skin and encourage exfoliation and regeneration.

These sheets can be very costly at $30 per sheet. A fresh sheet needs to be applied many times during the week. Larger scars can be very costly to treat. While this treatment can help to reduce the pain and itching of severe scars, there have been complaints of side effects, including rashes and itching.

Puncture Wound Scars

Treatment for Puncture Wound Scars

Puncture wounds may be a medical emergency. If you or someone you know receives a puncture wound to the eye or throat or any puncture wound with excessive bleeding, apply pressure right away and seek medical attention. Do not attempt to remove any objects lodged in the body. Call 911 if the wound is to the abdomen or chest, or if the person has difficulty breathing or is dizzy, unconscious, or vomiting.

Treatment at Home

Treatment for puncture wound scars begins at the time of injury. When an injury occurs, first make sure that it is not life threatening and that you are able to stop the bleeding. If the wound is deep and open, you may still need to contact a doctor.

Also contact a doctor if you sustain an animal bite, a human bite, a rusty nail wound or wounds that are near the neck, abdomen, or chest. Never remove a lodged object yourself. But if it is a splinter, you may carefully attempt removal yourself. Always take the object out in the same direction as its entry into the body. Clean puncture wounds by flushing with cold water for several minutes. Make sure any debris is cleaned from the wound. Place an antibiotic cream on the wound to prevent entry by bacteria.

Use a bandage and clean the wound daily, applying antibiotic cream after cleaning, until the wound edges close and come together. Keep an eye on the wound and watch for signs of redness around the edges or drainage of pus. If this begins to happen, you may need to contact a physician.

Follow-Up Care for Puncture Wounds

Many puncture wounds can be easily treated on site with no complications as long as the open area is cleansed and covered immediately. More severe wounds or infected wounds may need to be seen by a physician. Watch for signs of redness, bleeding or swelling, which could mean the wound is infected and you may need oral antibiotics.

Some puncture wounds also require a tetanus shot to prevent tetanus infection caused by rusty nails or animal bites.

Long-Term Treatment of Puncture Wound Scars

After the wound has closed, there may be a prominent scar that you would like to heal. Remember, this scar is the result of the body’s healing process and a buildup of new skin tissue that just looks different than the skin that was there before.

You can help reduce the appearance of this scar tissue by keeping it moist, nourished, and exfoliated of dead skin cells. Try a silicone gel product, a good moisturizer with nutrients, and an occlusive dressing to hold in the moisture and keep bacteria away from the area. This process may take awhile but is well worth the effort. For those who don’t have the time for topical scar removal, there are some costly medical procedures, including laser treatments, surgery and microdermabrasion.

Acne Scar Treatment

Does Acne Scar Treatment Work?

People who suffer from acne scars often feel self-conscious about their appearance. Even though acne scars are an embarrassing reality, acne scar treatment can help reduce their appearance and make you feel more confident. It just takes a little time and understanding in order to find what will work for you.

It is important to know that medical treatments for scar removal do not completely remove scars, can be costly and are not usually covered by insurance when they are for cosmetic reasons only. Most acne scar treatments only diminish the appearance of scars, while other treatments out there are very effective for fading scars and at helping regenerate healthy new skin . Before beginning treatment of acne scars, know what type of scar you are working with.

Types of Acne Scars

Acne scars are almost always permanent, although most may fade with time and good skin care. The different types of acne scars are usually:

Macules – These are flat, reddened spots that previously were acne lesions. They last for a few weeks after a breakout and tend to disappear on their own.

Dark Pigmentation – After healing, an acne scar can appear as a dark spot on the skin. This is a type of over-pigmentation caused by the inflammation during breakouts. These spots can take months to fade after the breakout is over.

Tissue Scarring – These acne scars grow large and appear raised on the skin after an acne lesion heals. They are known as either keloids or hypertrophic scars and are caused by too much collagen production during the healing process.

Pitting – This is the most common type of acne scarring. Caused by loss of tissue at the spots where there were acne lesions, these scars appear as pitted areas on the skin.

Finding Acne Scar Treatment

Finding an acne scar treatment that suits your needs depends on what you want. Medical treatment is not necessary if scarring is minor to moderate. If scars are severe, you may need professional help with them. People usually look for treatment and help when scars cause issues with self-esteem, and they are unable to fade them on their own at home.

Acne scar treatment is usually performed by a dermatologist or even a cosmetic surgeon. They can evaluate your scars and help you decide on a course of treatment depending on the severity and type of scars. They can also give you skin care ideas to help prevent scars in the future.

Common Acne Scar Treatments include:

Dermabrasion – This uses an instrument to take off the top layer of skin along with scar tissue to flatten and smooth the skin surface. This treatment requires recovery time and good skin care to prevent complications.
Microdermabrasion – The dermatologist uses a small abrasive material to scrub the top layer of skin off. This is a type of facial and can even be done by an aesthetician. There is no recovery time, but a few treatments over time may be required to effectively fade scars.
Chemical Peels – Chemical peels use a chemical that removes the top layer of skin. A chemical peel can fade the acne scars that are shallower, dark spots, and post-inflammatory lesions. Side effects include red skin, peeling, and irritation for a short time after the treatment.
Retinoic Acid – Certain acne scars do not respond to typical treatments. This is especially true with keloid acne scars. Retinoic acid cream can be applied to acne scars to help fade and diminish their appearance.
Laser Treatments – Laser treatments can smooth and lighten acne scars by removing the top layer of the skin. The type of laser used and the length of treatment depend on the type of scar tissue and how bad the damage is to the skin. It may take from a few to a number of treatments. There is a recovery period of a few days after treatments, and the cost can run over $1,000.
Filler Treatments – Pitted areas in the skin from acne scars can be filled with hyaluronic acid, fat, or collagen injections to even out the skin.

They are absorbed by the body, so repetitive treatments are needed over time.

Punch Excisions – This is a type of surgery that can take out the acne scar. A punch biopsy tool is used to “punch” out the area, and then the surgeon can suture the area closed. This is mainly used on pitting acne scars.
Skin Grafting – When there are large areas of acne scars, the tissue can be replaced with healthy normal skin. The skin is usually taken from a hidden place, such as behind the ears. Skin grafting can be used after other invasive acne treatments to repair any damage.

Acne can severely dampen self-esteem, and looking into acne treatments can help you feel better about yourself. Understand the different methods of treatment, the costs and the recovery time involved in order to make the best decision.

Natural Scar Treatments

Natural Scar Treatment Options

Scars can affect many types of skin differently. No matter what type of scar you suffer from, you probably want to look into scar treatment. Scars may only cover one small area, or they may cover a large part of your body. Treating scars can reduce their appearance and bring back your self-confidence. While there are a variety of all-natural and safe products to help fade scars and heal the skin, not every scar removal product is appropriate for every skin type. You can learn about all of the different products to find the one best suited for your skin type. With natural treatments, you may be able to begin treating scars with things you already have in your home. Most of these remedies have potentially no side effects and can be very cost effective. Here is a list of natural home remedies:

Gels and Liquids

Aloe Vera Gel – Using aloe vera gel can help lighten scars and reduce their appearance. It comes from the aloe vera plant, and you can just break off a leaf and apply the gel directly to acne scars. Make sure to wash off and use a good moisturizer.

Honey – Honey has been used for thousands of years as a skin tonic. It can provide nutrients to help feed the skin and can also lock in moisture. Dab a bit of honey onto acne scars to help fade them.

Lemon Juice – The citric acid can help to lighten the appearance of scars.

Healthy doses of vitamin C from lemon juice help nourish and heal the skin. Lemon juice contains alpha hydroxy acid that can help remove dead skin cells. After using lemon juice, make sure to wash your face thoroughly and apply a good moisturizer.

Natural Pastes and Oils

Cucumber Paste – Take cucumber and grind it into a paste. Spread over acne scars to help reduce redness and inflammation. Cucumber helps moisturize the skin and speed up healing.

Almond Oil – Almond oil is very nourishing to the skin and can help the skin regenerate healthy tissue naturally. Make sure that you are not allergic to tree nuts before using it.

Olive Oil – Olive oil is very moisturizing to the skin and can be used after the above treatments to help lock in moisture and promote healing.

Make sure you use cold-pressed olive oil for the best results.

Natural Scar Treatment Tips

Try massaging the area of acne scars to keep adhesions from forming in the scar tissue. Gentle massages can keep scars from growing thicker. They can also promote blood flow to the area to help with healthy tissue regeneration.

Before you use any of the treatments above, always do a “spot check” to make sure your skin does not react badly to any of the treatments. Never leave lemon juice on your skin for more than 15 to 20 minutes and always moisturize after using.

Exfoliate your skin at least once a week with a scrub. You can try adding brown sugar to your honey to make a paste and scrub the skin. This will help remove dead skin cells. Never exfoliate more than twice weekly and always moisturize after exfoliation.

Scar Treatment At Home

Home Scar Treatment

Reducing scars at home may be easier than you think. Home remedies for scars are usually sitting right in your own kitchen or bathroom. Many items you use every day for other things are really effective in treating scars and preventing them from progressing. If you’re suffering from some unsightly scars, you may want to try one of the following home remedies:

Vitamin E

Many people often have vitamin E sitting around in a medicine cabinet. It comes in gel capsules to take internally as a supplement. These can be broken open to squeeze out the oil. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can nourish and feed the skin. If used early on in wound healing, vitamin E may help prevent scarring, when used often during the day. Vitamin E can also help promote growth of new healthy skin cells, leading to glowing, gorgeous skin. When you massage vitamin E oil into the skin tissue, it encourages the dead skin cells to slough off and new cells to grow in their place.

Baking Soda

You can make a paste of baking soda and water to exfoliate the skin. When you exfoliate, take off the dead skin cells to reveal a fresh new layer of skin. This process is very beneficial to scar healing. Baking soda helps scars appear flatter, reduces inflammation, and alleviates redness. Exfoliation is very effective in treating scars, but use caution because it can cause dry skin. After using baking soda twice daily, make sure you apply a good moisturizer to the area.

Olive Oil

Everyone has a bottle of extra virgin olive oil in the kitchen, and it is good for more than just sautéing. Olive oil is also a common ingredient in skin care products such as cosmetics, moisturizers, and soap. The monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil have many benefits to the body and skin. Take a tablespoon of olive oil, and dab it right onto the scar tissue. Massage it in gently, then cover it with a hot washcloth. This will steam in the olive oil to the area and soften the scar tissue. You can also use olive oil to moisturize your skin after you exfoliate. In addition to the home treatments mentioned above, some people also try the following:

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a popular type of skin treatment that can now be done at home. It uses a small machine to manually exfoliate dead skin cells. This can help remove scar tissue and regenerate skin cells. This needs to be done over several months to reduce the appearance of scars. Don’t exfoliate more than once or twice a week in order to avoid severe dryness.

After microdermabrasion, it is very important to moisturize. Moisturizers must include high amounts of vitamins A, C, and E to help the skin produce collagen. You can buy a personal microdermabrasion kit for use at home. For larger scars, you may need to have this professionally performed.

Laser Removal

Laser removal is performed by a certified professional, usually in a dermatologist’s office. Your doctor can help you decide which laser treatment is best for your type of scar. Many people actually prefer this type of medical scar removal because the laser is more controlled than a scalpel. Smaller appearing scars are easily treated in just a few minutes. Laser treatments are very expensive and can cost over $3,000, but the price depends on the location and size of the scar.

Preventive Care

Preventive Care to Keep Nasty Scars away

Skin is your body’s main form of protection from invaders and damage. When you get a scar, your body is sealing up to protect your insides. Scars are the natural buildup of fibrous tissue formed from collagen. Collagen is released as soon as an injury occurs and the body works to close up the open area. Scars are unsightly and can be uncomfortable. The best way to prevent scars is to take action as soon as possible after an injury. Preventive care only takes a little time, and the benefits are worth it!

Taking care of wounds properly is the first and most important part of preventive care. Keep the wound clean and dry. Flush new wounds with water, and make sure all dirt is removed from the wound bed. Clean daily with mild soap and water. Keep a sterile bandage over the wound to keep it clean.

You can use an antibacterial cream to prevent infection. After the wound closes, begin to apply a silicone-based gel to lock in moisture and encourage healthy tissue regeneration. Your body will send a constant stream of white blood cells to the area for quite some time. This causes the first fibrous tissue in the wound bed and shows up as a scab. They don’t look very good and can be itchy. Make sure you don’t pick at scabs, as this will cause more fibrous tissue to form and make the scar appear worse. This can also cause an infection in the skin.

Preventive Care For Different Types Of Scars

Scars are a natural part of healing even with small injuries. Every scar is different in size and the way they look. How you scar depends on your ethnic background, genetics, age, and health and where the injury is. Whatever the type of scar, it is important to start treatment right away to prevent it from getting out of control and to help the skin heal properly.

Some scars are very small, flat, and light in color. These can be covered, and treatment is very effective in reducing these minor scars. Other scars can be very red, raised, and possibly larger than the wound bed. These are known as either hypertrophic or keloid scars. They can be itchy and painful. Preventive care for these types of scars includes protecting the skin from any injury. Avoid piercings, and if you need surgery, let your surgeon know that you are at risk for keloid scars. If you do receive an injury, avoid any heavy lifting, exercise and strain on the skin areas.

No matter what type of injury you sustain, there is never a guarantee that you won’t receive a lasting scar. The best preventive care is to protect your skin and begin wound care immediately after an injury.

Scar Reduction

Scar reduction aims at preventing scars from becoming worse. Use a good sunscreen when going out in the sun to prevent discoloration to the scar tissue. Since scar tissue is a different color than the skin, tanning will make it stand out. Sunburns can also make scars look worse and increase the scar tissue when the sunburn heals.

You will also want to look into the numerous scar creams available that contain nutrients that can nourish scarred skin. Look for ingredients like cocoa butter, vitamin E, and aloe vera. Make sure scar creams do not contain a lot of water that dilutes the important ingredients. You can also try to cover the scar with a silicone gel sheet to lock in moisture during the healing process. Silicone products can reduce the redness, appearance and size of a scar.

During treatment, try a good concealer with a shade of green to balance out the redness. Yellow can help, but may not be good for darker skin tones. People with darker skin tones can try coloring their skin around the scar to help it blend in naturally. This procedure can be costly and is permanent, so liquid concealers are sometimes a better option.

Acne scars, pitted scars or chicken pox marks can be filled in with collagen injections. More than one treatment is required, and they are quite costly. Doctors can also inject steroids to reduce inflammation, fade redness, and help smooth and flatten the scar areas. These are quite costly and require multiple treatments.

To smooth the skin, also try microdermabrasion or dermabrasion. These treatments exfoliate the top layer of skin and flatten scar tissue. They can be done with a machine or a scrub with small granules a few times a week. There are kits that can be used at home, or the treatment can be done in a spa or dermatologist’s office.

Lastly, scar reduction can be done by surgery or laser treatments. These are very invasive and require some downtime. For these reasons, preventive care is very important at the beginning of an injury.

What Causes Scars?

Causes of Scars

Many people ask their doctors, “What causes scars?” The answer is usually quite simple: Your body is healing from an injury, and once a scar appears, your body has just closed a wound. The body has an amazing ability to send healing cells to the site of an open wound, closing it up quickly so that bacteria does not enter the body. If the skin cells were produced exactly as they were before, the wound would take a long time to close. Therefore, the cells that close the wound tend to appear just a little different than those originally in the area.

Unfortunately, many people are very self-conscious about scars. It is important to understand that when your skin’s surface sustains an injury and heals, it may never completely go back to its original appearance. The healing cells tend to make a different kind of skin that looks different in color and texture. Some scars are more noticeable than others, but the bottom line is the body is doing its job. Scars are made up of certain proteins and collagen that make up the surface of the skin. The tissue that scars are made of tends to be more sensitive to sunlight, does not generate hair growth, and is different in color than the rest of the skin.

There are many types of treatments to reduce the appearance of scars. Finding the right treatment depends on the type of injury and scar that occurred. While it is impossible to completely get rid of a scar, they do fade, sometimes dramatically. They eventually become smaller and lighter; it just takes time.

What are the Different Types of Scars?

Keloid Scars – Keloid scars come from an overproduction of collagen at the site of a wound after it has healed.

This in turn causes large areas of scar tissue to grow over and outside the area of the original wound. These scars tend to be more common in people with darker skin.

Keloid scars can be treated with steroid injections in the areas of scarring. Steroids are an anti-inflammatory that can reduce the appearance of redness and help with itching.

People who develop keloids need to understand that once they occur, they can occur again in the same area or at the sites of new injuries.

Hypertrophic Scars – Hypertrophic scars do not grow outside the borders of the wound bed and tend to heal on their own in a year’s time or more. Hypertrophic scars are tougher and redder than normal scars, and they often need steroids to heal or corrective surgery.

Contracture Scars – When there is a large loss of skin tissue, scars may form that attempt to “pull” the sides of the wound together to close it. The pulling appearance of these scars gives them the name contracture. Most of these types of scars require a cosmetic surgeon to perform a Z-plasty in order to graft new skin or form a flap to correctly close the wound.

Facial Scars – When the face receives a wound that scars it and changes its appearance, surgeons can remove the scar tissue and make a few small stitches to leave a smaller scar. Dermatologists can also perform dermabrasion that softens and leaves the skin smoother. However, facial scars do not completely go away with these treatments.