What is a hypertrophic scar diagnosis and treatment of thick raised scars

A Hypertrophic Scar is a thick raised scar that can occur in taut areas of your skin without physical trauma, burns, or surgical incisions. Normally, a small wound that occurs on the top layer of your skin develops into a unappetizing scar. However, if you had deeper wounds, your soul responds by producing collagen to repair forfeiture to the area. Since collagen is thicker than the rest of your skin and the deeper the wound the increasingly collagen the wound needs, a hypertrophic scar may form.

How Hypertrophic Scars are Diagnosed

A diagnosis of a hypertrophic scar is washed-up by assessing the site of the scar. In general, the pursuit are the characteristics of this type of scar;

Hard or thickened raised tissue over the wound site
The scar causes discomfort such as itching, irritation, pain, or tenderness.
The scar wontedly appears in skin areas that imbricate your joints.
Pink to red to purple skin colour over the wound site
The scar may limit the natural movement of your joint.
The scar occurs one to two months without the injury.

What is the difference between a hypertrophic scar and a keloid scar?

With hypertrophic scars, the uneaten connective tissue that forms within the original wound stays within that area. However, this uneaten connective tissue can proffer vastitude the original wound zone in keloid scars.
With regards to colour, hypertrophic scars are pink to red while keloid scars are red to purple.
Hypertrophic scars are usually located on taut skin areas while keloid scars are found on both taut and less taut skin areas.
The collagen fibers of hypertrophic scars are usually parallel to the upper skin layer while they have a random, disorganized wattle in keloid scars.
Hypertrophic scars may take 1 to 2 months to develop while keloid scars may take months to years to form without injury.
Your risk of skin cancer is usually low if you have hypertrophic scars but this can increase with keloid scars.
With regard to treatment, hypertrophic scars are easier to treat and may wilt less noticeable over time. On the other hand, keloid scars never go yonder without the proper treatment.

Popular Treatments for Hypertrophic Scars

When it comes to treating these types of scars the aim is to flatten and soften the scar, as well as, reduce the size, lighten the colour, and unstrap discomforts (e.g. pain or itching). However, your dermatologist or plastic surgeon may recommend that you wait a few months or plane a year surpassing whence to treat your scar. This gives unbearable time for the scar to fully heal and possibly reduce in size and flatten on its own. There are several ways to treat hypertrophic scars, including;

Corticosteroid injections

The injection of corticosteroids is the main treatment for thick raised scars.
Corticosteroids reduce the value of scar tissue underneath your skin by breaking the immuration between collagen fibers.

Laser therapy

Hypertrophic scars are usually treated by long-pulsed lasers.
They work by stimulating the production of new skin cells to replace old and damaged skin cells.
Over time, healthy new tissue forms at the site, thus, reducing the colour of the scar and improving its texture.

Scar Revision Surgery

This procedure removes the thick raised scar tissue permanently.
Scar surgery usually involves using an anaesthetic and wearing out the scar or redirecting the lines of tension on the scar.
While this method is effective, surgery is often the last resort considering it can moreover result in scarring.
Surgery can moreover be washed-up in conjunction with other scar treatment options for optimal results.

Silicone sheets and Tapes

They are used without wound closure to prevent or reduce hypertrophic scars. For weightier results, you need to wear the self-adhesive sheets every day (24 hours) for several months.
Silicone sheets modernize the visitation of thick raised scars by; improving wound hydration and occlusion, reducing wound tension, decreasing thoroughbred spritz to the scar site, and aiding in the structuring of structural proteins.

Compression Garments

These special garments are moreover worn 24 hours a day to help modernize the visitation of hypertrophic scars.
The steady compressive gravity provided by the garment can stimulate the dispersal of glut collagen so that it can be reabsorbed by your body.
Over time, the scar flattens and becomes less noticeable.

FAQs well-nigh Hypertrophic Scars

Do hypertrophic scars go away?

Hypertrophic scars are healthful and do not rationalization any harm to your overall health. However, they can be a cosmetic snooping considering they do not go away.
While their size, shape, and height can be reduced over time, they will not completely disappear.
Hypertrophic scars can lighten as time passes by, making them less noticeable.

Do hypertrophic scars flatten on their own?

While hypertrophic scars do not completely disappear, they usually towards lighter and flatter over time, plane without treatment.
It may take several months to years for the scars to wilt less noticeable.
For weightier results, you can try scar reduction treatments.

Why do scars wilt hypertrophic?

Normally, a small wound that occurs on the top layer of your skin develops into a unappetizing scar. However, if you had deeper wounds, increasingly collagen will be needed to repair the site of injury. Since collagen is thicker than the rest of your skin, a thick raised scar tabbed hypertrophic scar may form.

How do you flatten a hypertrophic scar?

There are several other treatments that you can try to reduce the visitation of hypertrophic scars.
These include corticosteroid injections, laser therapy, bleomycin or 5-FU (fluorouracil) injections, cryotherapy, surgery, silicone sheets, and pinch garments.
During your consultation, your healthcare provider will assess your scar and overall health to determine which treatments or combination of treatments will work best.

Can you cut off a hypertrophic scar?

When other treatment options have failed, surgery is recommended to remove the hypertrophic scar. However, your healthcare provider will teach you to wait at least a year surpassing the procedure to indulge the scar to fully heal.
During the procedure, a local anaesthetic will be injected into the target area. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, the practitioner will cut out the hypertrophic scar and will tropical the zone using stitches. This method attempts to re-heal the injury while eliminating issues that may have unsalaried to the minutiae of the scar in the first place, such as inflammation, infection, or tension.

Can massaging a scar make it worse?

Once your wound has healed, your healthcare provider will recommend that you start performing a gentle massage tabbed gliding.
When performed correctly, it can help make your skin flexible, prevent itching, and reduce the visitation of the scar.
To perform scar massage:
Place your fingers onto the scar.
Move in gentle circular motions using your skin (not your fingers) to prevent skin irritation due to friction.
Perform for a few minutes surpassing applying moisturizer.

As the scar matures, you can increase the pressure of the massage. This helps soften the scars.

Why is my scar itchy and raised?

If you had deeper wounds, increasingly collagen will be needed to repair the site of injury.
Since collagen is thicker than the rest of your skin, a thick raised scar tabbed hypertrophic scar may form. In some cases, your scar can finger itchy. This is considering scars are usually tight and not rubberband like your skin.
Also, if you wits significant weight or skin changes, your scar may finger itchier.
This can moreover happen if you have dry skin.

How can I flatten my scars naturally?

There are natural ways to flatten your thick raised scars, including:
Using silicone sheets.
Applying shea butter or coconut to your skin.
Using pinch garments.
Applying onion extract/gel and/or Apple Cider Vinegar to your skin.
Applying Aloe Vera gel to your skin.

Who is prone to hypertrophic scar?

You are at increased risk for hypertrophic scars if you have;
A family history of hypertrophic scarring.
Burn wounds, expressly second- and third-degree burns.
Systemic (whole body) inflammation.
A history of poor wound healing.
Dark skin complexion.

How do you prevent hypertrophic scarring?

It may not be possible to stave the insemination of thick raised scars expressly if it runs in your family. However, there are ways to lower the risk of hypertrophic scars. These include the following:
Use silicone gel or sheets on new scars.
Use pinch garments.
Clean new piercings regularly.
Perform scar massage as your healthcare provider instructs.

When does hypertrophic scarring occur?

Six to eight weeks without injury, you will notice that thick raised scars tabbed hypertrophic scars will uncork to form at the site.
This will reach plateau in six months.
Unlike keloid scars, hypertrophic scars form in skin areas that imbricate your joints such as the elbows and knees.
When located over the joints, hypertrophic scars can stupefy the movement of the area.

Should you massage a hypertrophic scar?

Yes. – Once your wound has healed, your healthcare provider will recommend that you start performing a gentle massage tabbed gliding.
When performed correctly, it can help make your skin flexible, prevent itching, and reduce the visitation of the scar.
As the scar matures, you can increase the pressure of the massage.
This helps soften the scars.

Are hypertrophic scars shiny?

Like keloid scars, hypertrophic scars are characterized by firm, rubbery lesions or shiny stringy nodules.
They may towards as flesh-coloured to pink or plane dark-red to brown.

What does a hypertrophic scar finger like?

Hypertrophic scars may finger like a nonflexible lump or tumor when touched.

Are hypertrophic scars itchy?

Yes. They can be itchy and painful considering scars are usually tight and not rubberband like your skin.
In specimen of significant weight or skin changes, your scar may finger itchier.
This can moreover happen if you have dry skin.

When will my scar flatten out?

The time it takes for scars to flatten out will depend on the extent of the injury and your healing ability.
Scars, expressly thick raised scars, will take time to settle.
In general, the lumpiness, puckering, and thickening in the scar will require two to three months to diminish.
You will need to wait nine to twelve months for the redness and pigmentation to fade.
After twelve months, the scar should towards unappetizing and pale.

Does bio oil help hypertrophic scars?

Bio-Oil is a cosmetic oil made from a combination of ingredients such as calendula, lavender, rosemary, and chamomile.
In a study of 80 volunteers with non-hypertrophic scars (40) or stretch marks (40) not older than 3 years, the using of bio oil for 8 weeks reduced the visitation of the scars and stretch marks. [1]

What are the 3 types of scars?

There are three types of scars:

Hypertrophic scars: With hypertrophic scars, the uneaten connective tissue that forms within the original wound stays within that area.
Keloid scars: The uneaten connective tissue can proffer vastitude the original wound zone in keloid scars.
Contracture scars: These scars can tighten your skin and limit the movement of the unauthentic area.

Is scar tissue a nonflexible lump?

Yes. Uneaten scar tissue can grow and form a nonflexible lump.
This is considering scar tissue is well-balanced of a tough, stringy protein tabbed collagen.

Medical References well-nigh Hypertrophic Scar minimisation

Bielfeldt, S., Blaak, J., Staib, P., Simon, I., Wohlfart, R., Manger, C., & Wilhelm, K. P. (2018). Observer-blind randomized controlled study for resurgence of scar and striae appearance.