What is a hypertrophic scar?

A hypertrophic scar is a thick raised scar that's an abnormal response to wound healing. They more commonly occur in taut skin areas following skin trauma, burns or surgical incisions. Treatments include medication, freezing, injections, lasers and surgery.

Do hypertrophic scars go away?

Hypertrophic scars are benign and not harmful to a person's general health. They do not develop into skin cancer. A hypertrophic scar will often regress completely between 6 months and 3 years after it first appears.

Why do scars become hypertrophic?

Like keloid scars, hypertrophic scars are the result of excess collagen being produced at the site of a wound. Unlike keloid scars, hypertrophic scars do not extend beyond the boundary of the original wound. They may continue to thicken for up to 6 months before gradually improving over a few years.

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

Hypertrophic and keloid scars are two types of raised, abnormal scars. Hypertrophic scars grow within the borders of the original wound and eventually grow smaller, but keloids grow beyond the original wound borders, do not grow smaller on their own, and are difficult to treat.

Do hypertrophic scars flatten on their own?

Generally, hypertrophic scars don't cause complications. They usually fade and flatten over time, even without treatment.

Do Hypertrophic Scars Go Away? | Dr. Angela Sturm

What does hypertrophic scar look like?

The signs and symptoms of a hypertrophic scar are easy to recognize. They include: Hard or thickened raised tissue over your wound site. Pink to red to purple skin color over your wound site.

How do you fix a hypertrophic scar?

Corticosteroid treatments: Corticosteroid injections are considered a first-line treatment for hypertrophic scars. Injecting a steroid into the scar every six weeks may help flatten and soften the scar.

Are hypertrophic scars shiny?

Both keloids and hypertrophic scars may appear as firm rubbery lesions or shiny fibrous nodules that may be flesh-colored to pink or even dark-red to brown (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4) .

How do you know if you have a keloid or hypertrophic?

They may be red or pink in appearance. The most important difference between a keloid and a hypertrophic scar is that hypertrophic scars do not grow past the original boundaries of the skin injury. Similar to keloids, hypertrophic scars are associated with adverse wound healing factors.

What are the 3 types of scars?

What color are hypertrophic scars?

The hypertrophic scar is usually pink, red or purple in color and may be raised, inflamed, itchy, and even painful (Fig. 28.5). Early motion around a healing scar may create hypertrophic scar formation in the part of the scar that is mobile (Fig. 28.6).

Can massaging a scar make it worse?

If a patient massages their scar prematurely it could cause the wound to tear or reopen, risking an infection. It's therefore important to advise them to not begin massaging until the wound is fully healed.

When do hypertrophic scars start to form?

Hypertrophic scars develop in 1 to 2 months after injury, whereas, keloids develop months to years after the initial injury. Hypertrophic scars and keloids often cause irritation, pruritus, and even neuropathic pain. Severe hypertrophic scars or keloids over a large area can cause contractures that may be disabling.

Is a hypertrophic scar a keloid?

Per their definition, both scar types rise above skin level, but while hypertrophic scars do not extend beyond the initial site of injury, keloids typically project beyond the original wound margins (3,4). Nevertheless, clinical differentiation between hypertrophic scars and keloids can be problematic.

Are keloids hard or soft?

The texture of keloids can differ. They can feel soft and doughy or hard and rubbery. Other symptoms that a person with a keloid scar may experience include: pain.

Are hypertrophic scars itchy?

Hypertrophic scars are often raised and red in color and may be itchy and painful to the touch. In more severe cases, some people may develop keloids in reaction to injury or trauma. Keloids are scars that grow past the initial boundary of the wound, creating what looks like a growth on the skin.

How do you prevent hypertrophic scarring?

Shortening the wound healing time as well as reducing inflammation during and after wound healing are the most important strategies for scar prevention. Early treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars may prevent their growth and improve the outcomes.

How do you massage a hypertrophic scar?

Use the pads or soft tips of your fingers to massage the scar and tissue around the scar. Massage in all three directions. Circles: Using two fingers make small circles over the length of the scar and the skin surrounding it. Vertical: Using two fingers massage the scar up-and-down.

What happens if I don't massage my scar?

Do not massage until your incision has fully healed and is a scar (not just a wound or scab). If you massage your scar prematurely you could cause it to reopen or tear, leading to an infection.

Should you moisturise a scar?

A scar is mature when it is paler, flatter or softer. ◗ It is recommended that you continue to moisturise your mature scar regularly.

Is scar tissue a hard lump?

What are keloids? When skin is injured, fibrous tissue called scar tissue forms over the wound to repair and protect the injury. In some cases, extra scar tissue grows, forming smooth, hard growths called keloids. Keloids can be much larger than the original wound.

What constitutes a mature scar?

A normal mature scar develops later on during the maturation phase. The scar will become flattened and more pale in color, e.g. white or silver, but it will not fully disappear. You will be left with a mark on your skin. The whole scarring process can take up to 2 years to conclude.

How do I know what kind of scar I have?

A dermatologist examines your skin to determine what type of scar you have. He or she makes note of its location and size because scars may have different characteristics depending on where they are on the body.

What are the 4 types of scars?

Does retinol help hypertrophic scars?

In vitro studies have demonstrated that retinoids can modulate collagen production and the proliferation of normal and keloidal fibroblasts. In vivo applications of 0.05% topical retinoic acid can lead to a reduction of hypertrophic scars in 50-100% of patients and of keloids in less than 20% of patients.