treatyourscars Here is my coveted leaflet on why C-section scars itch – something I’ve gritted my teeth for years, and what I’ve learned is simple: You have a problem. One thing you have been told will not help you stop the itching is the scar.
When the scar begins to heal, it begins to itch when the wound is cared for. The connection between old scars and itching There are several factors that make your scar itchy. New scars may itch, old scars may itch, and you may also experience skin changes and weight loss.
The cause of scarring is the natural reaction of the body to skin lesions that reach the dermis (the skin layer under the outermost layer of the skin). The nerve endings of your body become more sensitive and cause an itchy sensation when they begin to heal.
It is normal to get itching in the first few days after a C-section scar. If you are like me and have been healing for years, the scar may itch for a while. In addition, there may be weight and skin changes around the scar, which are more itchy.
If these nerves are damaged or disturbed, they can become sensitive, which can cause a C-section scar to itch. When the scar heals and tissue is reshaped around it, the nerves surrounding the scar become sensitive and treat the scar as foreign material.
If itchy C-section scars do not scratch or play with you, damage to the healing interface can cause swelling and pain. Collagen is necessary to seal wounds, and when the body produces collagen, increased or discolored scars may result.
Unlike hypertrophic scars, keloids can grow outside the original scar margin, resulting in an increased, discolored scar with a lumpy appearance. According to AARP, keloid scars can itch and lead to discomfort, tenderness or irritation in clothing or other sources of friction. For example, they are known to cause sensitivities and other unpleasant sensations.
Although keloids can discolor the skin, they do not pose a risk if the scars are burns or contractures that stretch the skin. Healing of burn scars can cause an itchy sensation and tightness of the skin.
During the healing process, you might want to apply a vitamin E cream to the scars to make them fade, says Dr Ross. Sunlight can cause scars to become more prominent, making them darker and brighter than the surrounding skin – try to protect them from direct sunlight for the first year and regularly apply sunscreen. Aggressive scars can form keloids that can become hypertrophic, so injections that act as steroids to reduce inflammation can help scars flatten and become less noticeable.
If you are trying to minimize the prominence of the scar, use an over-the-counter product such as a silicone strip that is recommended by your doctor. You can also place the silicone tape over the area three to six months after birth.
You should monitor what your scar looks like in the days and weeks after the C-section. You should also avoid exposure to the sun for at least one year to minimise damage to scar tissue.
Scar pain, bleeding, numbness and cramps may occur in the first few weeks after the procedure. Urgent needs for immediate attention include redness, heat and swelling. If you have a C-section scar and itchyness, resist the urge to scratch the healing wound.
Observing the area is an excellent way to see if your itchy C-section scar is infected with infection. It is a good idea to contact your doctor if the pain caused by the scar is unrelievably or if you think you might have an infection. If you notice heavy bleeding or wetness at the interface, reddish edges, increased scar pain in the C-section or fever above 100.4 degrees, call your doctor immediately for signs of infection.
In this video, Dr. Nuchelle Gurule discusses how to massage the c-section scar to reduce itching and to increase the mobility of the scar tissue. You can massage your scar if you feel that you are not making progress in relieving itching or pain, and help is available.
Massage can reduce the formation of scar tissue in C-section and help guarantee a smooth, flat, pain-free and supple scar, says Leslie Lo, DPT, a physiotherapist at Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group in Chicago. Mayan abdominal massage is a special form of massage that helps your body to reduce deep adhesions and scar tissue.
Beginning four to six weeks after the operation, after your doctor has released the scar, massage the scar by rubbing the scar first side by side and then diagonally. If your scar is keloid, which means it is raised, the only way to fix it is surgical wound correction, says Dr Shepherd. Scar correction after surgery is especially useful if you have a form of hypertrophic scar that is high enough to be noticeable.
For example, some doctors advise against surgery to correct small scars. Non-invasive treatment Some doctors recommend non-invasive treatments to reduce itching and the overall appearance of the scar.
If you have tried silicone gels or hydrogel leaves and your scar starts to hurt or does not seem to heal, call your doctor immediately. Promoting healthy skin healing as quickly as possible is a major step towards minimising scars and skin damage.
Some women say they have severe pain that comes and goes, Dr. Shepherd says. Depending on how quickly the scar heals it can thin and imperceptible, said Sherry Ross, MD, Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. However, superficial nerves in the skin that were severed during the birth and recovery process can make the area hypersensitive and cause a bit of itching, she says.
This can be due to contamination of the site and manifests in itching, swelling, pain in the touch, fever, nausea, vomiting, etc. During the healing period, normal skin may thicken and hyperkeratotic skin, known as keloids, may form around the site of surgery. During this time, some may experience pain and itching around the scar.
A small circular movement can help to heal it, but if you have had it for a year or two, it may not help. The healing process of your body may be overdriven, which can lead to problems with scars.
A keloid scar occurs when the scar tissue extends beyond the original wound boundary, resulting in a knot of scar tissue around the incision. A hypertrophic scar is thicker, firmer and higher than a normal scar, but unlike keloids, it remains within the boundaries of its original cut line.
