July 24, 2025 | Like people, scars come in all shapes and sizes. A scar occurs when the skin repairs a wound caused by accident, diseases, or surgery. A permanent patch of skin that grows over a wound, a scar typically appears red and thick at first and will gradually fade away. The scar that appears unattractive after three months may become less noticeable if given more time. The more the skin is damaged and the longer it takes to heal, the greater the chance of a visible scar. A scar forms when your body heals itself after a cut, scrape, burn or sore. You can also get scars from surgery that cuts through the skin, from infections like chickenpox, or skin conditions like acne. Scars are often thicker or shinier than the rest of your skin. How a scar looks typically depends on the size of the wound and where it is located on the body. The person’s age and their inherited tendency to scar can also affect the healing process.

July 24, 2025 | Keloids are one of the four main types of scars. Keloids protrude from the skin and extend beyond the site of the original injury. They occur from injuries such as surgical incisions, vaccination sites, acne, or even minor scratches. Most keloids, which often run in families, will flatten and become less noticeable over a period of several years. They may hamper movement and become irritated from rubbing on clothing or other forms of friction. Exposure to the sun during the first year of a keloid’s formation will cause it to tan darker than surrounding skin. Discoloration as a result of sun exposure can sometimes be prevented by covering the forming keloid with a patch or Band-Aid, and by using a sunscreen when spending time in the sun. A keloid may be reduced in size by through laser treatments or it may be removed surgically but it is not unusual for them to reappear after they have been removed.

July 24, 2025 | Contracture scars may occur after a severe burn. These scars cause tightening of skin that can impair your ability to move. This type of scar may also go deeper to affect muscles and nerves. Hypertrophic scars are raised and red scars that are similar to keloids, but do not extend beyond the site of the injury. A third kind of scar occurs as a result of acne. There are many types of acne scars, ranging from deep pits to scars that are angular in appearance. There are many over the counter methods of treating these kinds of scars but it’s a good idea to talk to a physician before you use any kind of treatment. Corticosteroids or antihistamine creams may be recommended if your scars cause itching and are extremely sensitive. If you have scarring due to acne, you should talk to a dermatologist, they may recommend steroid shots, pressure dressings or silicone gel sheeting to prevent acne scars or help treat existing scars.

July 24, 2025 | One of the most successful techniques for treating scars is also one of the oldest. In use for more than a century, dermabrasion involves freezing the patient’s skin, scarred from acne, chicken pox or other causes. The doctor then mechanically removes or “sands” the skin to improve the contour and achieve a rejuvenated appearance as a new layer of remodeled skin replaces the damaged skin. The area is thoroughly cleansed with an antiseptic cleansing agent. The area to be “sanded” is then treated with a spray that freezes the skin. A high-speed rotary instrument with an abrasive wheel or brush removes or abrades the upper layers of the skin and improves irregularities in the surface. For a few days, the skin feels raw and sore to the touch but healing usually occurs within 7 to 10 days. Patients are instructed to avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight for three to six months after the procedure.

July 24, 2025 | There are certain steps you should take to deal with any potential scars. First and foremost, you should always treat a wound promptly. Maintain pressure on the wound with special bandages or silicone sheeting. This will help flatten any resultant scarring. And gently massage the scarred area once it is healed. Massaging helps break down the dense bands of collagen from forming in underlying tissue. You should consider scar therapy for older scars, and for scarring that causes you physical or emotional pain. Don’t ignore a scar that becomes raised, itchy or red, which could be a sign of infection. Don’t swab a wound with hydrogen peroxide, it can damage nearby healthy skin. Covering a cut with a bandage is not always necessary. Instead, allow it to breathe and form a hard scab, which will speed healing in the wounded area. And don’t treat a wound with vitamin E as this can impair the healing process.