treatyourscars Sometimes the scar is hypertrophied or thickened, but limited by the edge of the original wound. When body tissue is damaged by physical trauma, a scar can form as the wound heals. As the wound heals, the scar will become flatter and paler. After the damage to the skin, a flat scar is usually left during the healing process.
The scar connects to the edge of the skin, causing the skin to stretch. In some cases, extra scar tissue can grow into smooth, hard growths called keloids. Even after the wound has healed, keloids continue to form, forming a large amount of scar tissue. In addition, keloid scars and hypertrophic scars are formed due to excessive collagen production during wound healing.
Collagen, a protein found throughout the body, is beneficial for wound healing, but when the body produces too much of it, keloids can form. Keloid growth can be caused by any type of skin lesion: insect bites, acne, injections, piercings, burns, hair removal, and even minor scratches and bumps. Keep in mind that every time you have a piercing, tattoo, or skin injury, a hypertrophic or keloid scar can form.
If you are prone to developing keloids, you should be vigilant and take steps to prevent these scars from forming. According to the AARP, keloid scars can be itchy and cause discomfort, soreness, or possible irritation from clothing or other forms of rubbing. In most cases, hypertrophic scars develop in wounds in high tension anatomical areas such as the shoulders, neck, hips, knees, and ankles while the interior chest, shoulders, ear lobes, arms, and cheeks have a great tendency to form keloids. Hypertrophic and keloid scars are bulging, hard scars formed as a result of excessive production of fibrinogen and collagen during healing.
Continuation of educational activity Hypertrophic scars are located inside the lesion and may regress over time, while keloids go beyond the original lesion and do not regress. For example, a hypertrophic scar forms shortly after skin rupture, while keloids may not begin to form until a year after injury. The tissue structure also varies between the two types of scars. Elucidating this process may help explain why keloid scars extend beyond the original wound edges, while hypertrophic scars, in which immune cell infiltration diminishes over time, remain within the original wound edges and often regress over time.
The exact reason why wound healing sometimes leads to the formation of keloids is under investigation, but it is not yet clear. Other minor injuries that can cause keloids are cosmetic burns and perforations. A keloid scar is an enlarged, raised scar that may be pink, red, complex, or darker than the surrounding skin. On the chest, legs, or arms, keloids are likely to be flat raised scars.
Except for scars, they usually have no symptoms, but are sometimes itchy and painful. However, they are sometimes mistaken for hyperplastic scars, which may require fewer procedures to remove. Both types of scars are red and black in appearance, protruding above the skin, and sometimes appear bumpy. Although any trauma or surgery can lead to scar formation, keloids and hypertrophic scars increase the incidence of pain and itching and the possibility of dysfunction.
But treatment can be helpful if the keloid scar causes discomfort or interferes with movement (for example, if it covers a joint or a large area). People may also seek keloid treatment if the scar affects their self-esteem and how they feel about their appearance. For example, if the scar is large or in a very prominent place on your body, your doctor can help you find ways to reduce the size and protruding keloid.
Initially, your doctor will likely recommend less invasive treatments such as silicone pads, dressings, or injections, especially if the keloid scar is young enough. Correct treatment of hypertrophic scar and keloids during the healing process may be the most effective preventive measure. The use of corticosteroid injections after keloid surgery reduces the recurrence rate to less than 50 percent. 28 Scar excision may be complete, or a tiny scar residue may remain at the edge of the wound, which may reduce recurrence (according to experts).
Injections can be continued for up to 2 years after surgery to speed up healing and reduce the likelihood of the scar returning. Using silicone gel and patches for several months after surgery can also help reduce scarring. Side effects may include darkening of the skin of the treated area and the surrounding area.
Rice. 2 Differences between normal wound healing and excessive scarring over time. When there is an imbalance between the production and breakdown of collagen during the healing process, more collagen is produced than is degraded and the scar can expand or remain elevated and develop into a keloid or hypertrophic scar. Although collagen is essential for proper wound healing, excess collagen can lead to abnormal scarring.
These are thick, round, irregular deposits of scar tissue that grow on the wound site on the skin, but extend beyond the edges of the wound. They are usually redder or darker than the normal surrounding skin. They look like raised patches of scar tissue on the skin and are the result of the overgrowth of fibrous tissue in acne lesions.
They are most commonly found on the chest, back and shoulders, where the skin is thickest, although they can also occur around the jaw line. They can form on any part of the body, but the upper chest and shoulders are especially prone to them. Keloid tissue also contains a large amount of collagen, arranged in a random or spiral pattern, in contrast to the parallel pattern observed in hypertrophic scars and normal scar tissue.
Hypertrophic scars will contain thin collagen fibers with a higher ratio of type III to type I collagen, and keloids will be predominantly thick type I collagen fibers.
The patient’s skin tone is also important because keloids are more common on darker skin tones, and hyperplastic scars are present in all skin types. When this regulation is disrupted, less-than-ideal scars, such as hypertrophic scars and keloids, are formed. However, the benefits of removing large keloids may outweigh the risk of postoperative scarring.
However, laser treatment may worsen the condition of keloids, leading to increased scarring and redness. However, treatment can only improve the appearance of the scar; it cannot be completely erased.
