Why scars occur
All but the most minor injuries to the skin result in scars. We all have some scars and, anyone who has been damaged in an accident or had a surgical operation will be left with a scar.
After injury to the skin, our body’s priority is to make a rapid and strong repair. This would have been particularly important for primitive man, living in dirty and dangerous conditions. Although scars may look unattractive, they are an efficient way of healing. To regenerate tissue that was the same as before would take longer, with the wound remaining vulnerable during the process.
Surgeons are very keen to minimize scarring after their operations, because they know that scars can be distressing. Whenever possible, they make their incisions along lines in the skin that will heal best. They also take great care with ‘sewing up’ the skin. But sometimes a nasty scar cannot be avoided.
Questions to ask yourself if you are bothered by a scar
How recent is the scar?
A recent scar will probably become less noticeable in time. Most scars take 2–3 years to become pale. If you see a doctor for advice about a scar that is less than 1 year old, you will probably be advised just to wait.
What is really bothering me?
Is the appearance of the scar the main problem? Or does the scar interfere with movements (which may happen with a large scar over a joint, especially a burn scar) Is the scar causing any other problems such as itching or discomfort?
How much trouble and expense am I prepared to go to?
There are lots of treatments for scars. The simplest are creams and oils. You can buy these treatments from pharmacies, but you have to use them for some time, and it is uncertain whether there will be any result. So you could spend a lot of money for nothing. At the other end of the spectrum, doctors might advise cutting the scar out, which is a surgical operation.
What type of scar do I have?
Not all scars are the same! Different types of scar need different types of treatment, so try to work out what type you have. * Stretch marks are common after pregnancy.
* Stretched scars can also occur after surgery. The original scar is satisfactory, but over a few weeks it gradually widens to become a pale, soft scar. These scars are not usually uncomfortable, but the appearance may bother you.
* Keloids are large, bulky, raised scars. They can be very unsightly. Unlike other scars, they gradually grow bigger. They are most common in black skin.
* Other raised scars (not all raised scars are keloids) can occur after burns or surgery but, unlike keloids, they do not keep growing. They are often red and itchy.
* Chickenpox and acne scars are flat, small and slightly sunken.
* Shrunken scars are common after burns and can cause problems if they lie across joints. The medical term for these scars is ‘contractures’.
