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

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.

How do I know if I have a keloid or a hypertrophic scar?

What's the difference between a hypertrophic scar and a keloid scar? The key visible difference between hypertrophic and keloid scars is the degree of the spread of the scar around the original wound. With hypertrophic scars, the extra connective tissue that forms within the original wound stays within that area.

How do I know if my scar is keloid?

Is hypertrophic the same as keloid?

Although they can look similar, hypertrophic scars and keloids are not the same. A hypertrophic scar stays within the boundaries of the incision; a keloid extends beyond the incision line itself. With hypertrophic scars, more collagen forms than is broken down.

What does hypertrophic scar look like?

Hypertrophic scars occur when there is a lot of tension around a healing wound. These scars are thick and raised, and often red in color. They may remain like this for several years. Hypertrophic scars are the result of an imbalance in collagen at the site of the wound.

Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars - General Surgery

When does a scar turn hypertrophic?

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.

Can you cut off a hypertrophic scar?

Surgery: After waiting at least a year, a hypertrophic scar can be excised, or cut out, and closed again with stitches. This treatment tries to re-heal the injury while eliminating the issues that may have caused the scar in the first place, such as infection, inflammation, or tension.

Are hypertrophic scars permanent?

Hypertrophic scars, with their raised, red appearance, may take much longer than a normal scar to fade. For the most part, scars are permanent, but they can be faded using clinically-proven scar therapy products.

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) .

Are all raised scars keloids?

Keloids are a type of raised scar. They occur where the skin has healed after an injury. They can grow to be much larger than the original injury that caused the scar. They are not at all common, but are more likely for people who have dark skin.

Can hypertrophic scars turn into keloids?

In the majority of cases, hypertrophic scarring develops in wounds at anatomic locations with high tension, such as shoulders, neck, presternum, knees and ankles (9,12,13), whereas anterior chest, shoulders, earlobes, upper arms and cheeks have a higher predilection for keloid formation.

What does a keloid look like when it starts?

They start as raised scars that can be pink, red, purple, or brown and typically become darker over time. The appearance can depend on the location of the keloid, as well as the person's skin tone. Earlobe keloid scars are likely to be round or oval.

What is inside a keloid?

A keloid is usually larger than the original wound. A scar that stays inside the bounds of the original wound is a hypertrophic scar. A keloid scar is a thick raised scar. It can occur wherever you have a skin injury but usually forms on earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or the chest.

Why does my hypertrophic scar itch?

Histamine is one of the major causes of scar itchiness. Upon its release, histamine activates nerve fibers in the skin that signal the brain that there is an itch. Another reason why your scar feels tight and itchy is due to the third phase of the wound healing process: proliferation.

How do you flatten a keloid naturally?

What are the 3 types of scars?

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.

Are hypertrophic scars hereditary?

Abstract. Keloid disease and hypertrophic scars are dermal tumors that are often familial and typically occur in certain races. Their exact etiology is still unknown.

How do you flatten a keloid scar?

Treatments for keloid scars

Treatments that may help flatten a keloid scar include: steroid injections. applying steroid-impregnated tape for 12 hours a day. applying silicone gel sheeting for several months.

Will hypertrophic scar flatten over time?

Hypertrophic Scars: Thick, Raised Tissue

Hypertrophic scars may or may not flatten out over time and tend to remain pink or red. They can become itchy and painful; however, in most cases hypertrophic scars are most problematic as a cosmetic concern.

Do hypertrophic scars lighten?

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

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.

Are keloids permanent?

Keloids can continue to grow for months or even years. They eventually stop growing but they do not disappear without treatment.

Can you pierce keloid?

If you've ever had an ear keloid, don't pierce your ears again. If someone in your immediate family gets keloids, ask your dermatologist to do a test in a discreet area before you get any piercings, tattoos, or cosmetic surgery.

Is it normal for keloids to bleed?

Keloid scars can bleed and become infected. They can affect any area of skin, but the most common areas include the shoulders, upper back and chest, neck, ears and face. If someone develops a keloid scar on one part of their body, their skin may still heal normally in other body areas.