Keloids And Hypertrophic Scars
Scarring is a natural part of the body’s healing process, but trauma, infection, injury, or surgery can sometimes result in large or unsightly scars. A scar forms as the body heals and replaces lost or damaged skin, typically composed of fibrous tissue. Scars can appear anywhere on the body and may vary in composition, appearing flat, hypertrophic (elevated), atrophic (sunken), or discolored (dark, red, or white). They may also be painful or itchy. The final appearance of a scar depends on several factors, including skin type, location on the body, the direction of the wound, the type of injury, the age of the individual, and their nutritional status.
Hypertrophic Scars
- These thick, red scars usually protrude above
the surface of the skin and can become quite
obtrusive.
- They are, however, usually confined to the borders of the original wound, which means their growth is somewhat limited.
Keloid Scars
- Keloid scars can be some of the most
challenging to treat since they tend to grow
quite large and have a high recurrence rate.
- The most common places to see keloids
develop include visible spots like the ears, face or neck.
- They may be painful, itch or become puckered,
pulling in other tissue from the sides,
extending outside the boundaries of the
original wound. treat.
Treatment Options
- Steroids/Fluorouracil (injectable) – intralesional injections may impact the production of collagen, which will change the appearance and amount of scar tissue, especially beneficial for raised scars.
- Radiation Therapy – Superficial external beam radiotherapy is a low-dose radiation treatment that uses highly focused beams of light called superficial X-rays to destroy collagen-producing cells and limit the growth of new ones. These specialized X-rays do not penetrate deep layers of skin, so they don’t affect healthy tissue.
- Laser Treatments (vascular, resurfacing) – may be used to remove redness, uneven tone, and differing textures, including thickening and contracture, from scar tissue formation
- Surgical Excision – Typically not first-line option given high chance of scar recurrence; often combined with above treatment modalities