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A scar is a result of the body's healing response and replacing lost or damaged skin. Scars may be formed for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue.
What is it?
During the wound healing process, your body creates a collagen layer to cover the exposed area. The skin around the wound then extends over the collagen until the ends converge in the middle, resulting in a scar. The team at Bexley Dermatology provides treatment for various types of scars including hypertrophic, atrophic, keloid, and contracture scars.
Hypertrophic scars are elevated from your skin, formed due to collagen overproduction. The elevated portion remains within the initial injury's scope. Often red and somewhat thick, hypertrophic scars may decrease in size as they mature.
Atrophic scars, in contrast, are indented rather than raised from the skin. They occur when the skin is unable to regenerate tissue, commonly caused by acne.
A keloid is a thick scar that grows and becomes more prominent than the original scar or wound. Keloid scars can develop after an injury or skin damage caused by a cut, burn, body piercing, or even surgery. This enlarged, thicker scar occurs when the body produces too much collagen, a protein found throughout the body. Individuals with darker skin pigmentation are more likely to develop this type of scar. Unlike other scars, keloid scars will not fade naturally over time.
Contracture scars develop when a large area of skin is damaged, such as in a burn. As they mature, contracture scars tighten, restricting your movement.
Before deciding on the most suitable treatment, our dermatology clinic assesses your scar to determine its type, age and to ensure there are no signs of other issues like skin cancer.
How is it treated?
Scars can usually be identified through a simple visual examination of the skin. We sometimes encounter conditions that might initially appear to be a type of scar and turn out to be a sign of an underlying medical condition. In order to accurately diagnose your scar, we may need to carry out a skin biopsy for a microscopic examination in our laboratory. Once we have confirmed the diagnosis, we can offer various treatments for scars, including surgical scar modification, steroid injections or creams, silicone dressings or gels, laser therapy, and cryotherapy. You can book an appointment with one of our providers in Bexley, OH for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan.