This will of course depend on the operation site and a number of personal factors come into play. However, there are three distinct stages to healing and your scar will have a different appearance during each stage.
The three phases to healing are the inflammatory stage, the proliferative stage and the remodelling stage. The inflammatory stage begins immediately and lasts a few days. During this time, the bleeding stops and white blood cells come to the site and fight any infection. The wound at this point will look red and swollen and pink. After this, the proliferative stage takes place and continues for about three to four weeks.
To proliferate means to grow by rapid production. Fibroblasts cells that are capable of forming skin and other tissue gather at the site of injury. One of the most important duties of the fibroblasts is to produce collagen. Collagen is important because it increases the strength of the wound. The collagen continues to be produced for two to four weeks, pulling the edges of the wound together, and new capillaries tiny blood vessels are formed to aid the healing process.
After this time, destruction of collagen matches its production and so its growth levels off. The scar becomes thicker, red and contracts. It makes the scar more obvious and uncomfortable. The unpleasant appearance understandably causes some people concern at this point. Finally, the remodelling stage begins and continues for a period from several weeks to a few years. Scar remodelling is what changes a thick, red, raised scar to a thin, flat, white scar and over the course of time, your scars will usually fade and become barely noticeable.
How you heal will depend greatly on your genetics, for example, darker skin can produce darker and thicker scars. Keloids are large, bulky, raised, reddish scars that develop at the site of an injury or operation site.
Steroids injected into the scar can be helpful when the scar is growing. In severe cases, short-term low dose radiation may be used with surgery. Special care of the scar is necessary if there is a history of hypertrophic or keloid scarring.
Disclaimer : This information is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your child's physician. The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease.
Please consult your child's physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.
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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. Silicone sheets: Silicone elastomer sheets are noninvasive and can be applied as soon the skin heals after an injury. Many silicone products are available, including sheets, gels, sprays, and foams. Many are available over the counter OTC.
A sheet must be worn over the scar for 12 to 24 hours per day for 2 to 3 months. You have to apply the gel multiple times per day. Pressure and massage: One of the cheapest and most effective ways to help heal the scar is to apply pressure and massage to the area. You can use bandages or tape to apply pressure. Over time, it can help weaken the scar tissue and improve the appearance of the scar. Onion extract creams: Another OTC option is a topical gel made of onion extract.
This product is commonly marketed as Mederma. However, limited clinical data shows its effectiveness in reducing the appearance of hypertrophic scars. Bio Oil: Bio Oil is marketed as a treatment for all different types of scars. It can be purchased at many beauty supply stores. Clinical trials for Bio Oil showed positive results. However, the sample sizes were small.
I'm looking forward to having an operation soon to correct the worst part of the scar, but when I go out the make-up is really good for hiding it. When I have the make-up on and pull my hair over that side of my face, you almost can't see it at all!
Find answers to common questions about scars. Raised, shiny scars are known as keloid scars. Find out who gets them and how they're treated. Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health. Home Health library Scars summary Scars. Medically reviewed All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe.
In this article. What is a scar? How do scars form? Skin wounds can be caused by many things, including: accidental injuries surgery burns and scalds intentional harm Read more about the causes of scars. Where do scars form? Types of scars The different types of scars include: hypertrophic scars — red, raised scars that form along a wound and can remain this way for up to five years keloid scars — caused by an excess of scar tissue produced at the site of the wound where the scar grows beyond the boundaries of the original wound, even after the wound has healed pitted atrophic or 'ice-pick' scars — with a sunken appearance contracture scars — caused by the skin shrinking and tightening, usually after a burn, which can restrict movement Read more about scar types.
Treating scars Depending on the type and age of a scar, a variety of different treatments may help make them less visible and improve their appearance. Scars are unlikely to disappear completely, although most will gradually fade over time. If scarring is unsightly, uncomfortable or restrictive, treatment options may include: silicone gel sheets pressure dressings corticosteroid injections cosmetic camouflage make-up surgery Often, a combination of treatments can be used.
Emotional effects Scarring, particularly when it is on the face, can be very distressing. Preventing scars It is not possible to prevent scars from forming, but there are things you can do to help your scar be less visible and heal better, such as immediately cleaning dirt, objects and dead tissue from wounds.
Other ways to improve scarring include: avoiding scratching or picking at scabs and spots covering wounds with a waterproof ointment such as Vaseline using silicone gels or sheets to reduce redness and encourage healing. What do scars look like? Normal scars At first, a normal scar may be red and look sore, but it will usually fade as the injury begins to heal.
Other scars Keloid scars A keloid scar is an overgrowth of tissue that occurs when too much collagen is produced at the site of the wound and the scar keeps growing, even after the wound has healed. Pitted scars atrophic or 'ice-pick' scars Some scars caused by skin conditions such as acne and chickenpox can have a sunken or pitted appearance.
Scar contractures Scar contractures are commonly caused by burns. What causes scarring? Tissue damage can occur for a number of reasons, including: accidental injuries, such as cuts from falling off a bicycle deliberate harm from a weapon or from self-harm cuts made during surgery, such as a Caesarean section birth bites and scratches from animals or people burns and scalds from hot objects or liquids body piercings , such as ear or nose piercings injections, such as vaccination against tuberculosis BCG vaccination tattoos Scarring can also be a side effect or a complication of other conditions.
Internal scarring can be caused by injuries or surgery. How can I get rid of a scar? Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon for treatment. Corticosteroid injections Corticosteroid injections are used to treat some keloid and hypertrophic scars. This treatment cannot remove scars, but it can improve their appearance.
Silicone gels or sheets Silicone gels or sheets are available from some pharmacies. Surgery Sometimes, surgery can improve the appearance of scars.
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