Scar Basics

When the dermis, a deep layer of your skin that is sensitive to harm, is injured, the body responds by manufacturing collagen fibers to seal close any openings, known as scars or adhesions. The degree of scarring depends on a number of factors: degree and location of injury, age, nutrition, genetics, and if any infection as occurred.

Due to their rapid production, scars are made differently than healthy skin. Scars provide less protection and are less resistant to UV rays; they also are typically missing hair follicles and sweat glands if they were damaged in the injury. They can also be lacking in elasticity, causing movement restriction. Some scars also cause itching.

Types of Scars

An injury to the skin causes the body to respond by producing collagen, however, it can produce too much or too little. When there is too much, scars that are raised above the normal level of skin. Hypertrophic scars and keloid scars both fall into this category. Erythematous in nature (pink, purple or red), hypertrophic scars tend to be stiffer than the healthy skin that surrounds them. Hypertrophic scars can be found often in skin areas with high tension. Also protruding, keloid scars continue to grow and spread, unlike hypertrophic scars. Keloids often form around piercings that are not properly cleaned or cared for. Both scars are more common in those with dark skin rather than those with fair skin.

Atrophic scars are those that look pitted in appearance due to the loss of fat or muscle that normally supports the skin. These scars might appear because of surgery, chicken pox, or acne. This type of scarring occurs when the skin is forced to stretch quickly. Pregnancy and its resulting stretch marks are a good example of a rapid stretching of skin and atrophic scarring. Lastly, it can be caused when another area of skin is placed under stress. For this reason, the stretch from this type of injury generally occurs close to joints.

Hypertrophic Scar Treatment

Natural and prescription scar removal treatments exist. Some scar home remedies are the topical application of onion extract, cocoa butter, honey and vitamin E. Lemon juice can also be applied to scar tissue if lightening is desired.

In addition, a dermatologist might recommend topical creams, dermabrasion, laser treatment, surgery, and steroid or collagen injections in treating hypertrophic scars. Z-plasty and skin grafting are other ways for hypertrophic scar removal, literally. Z-plasty is a surgical procedure that removes the scar and places it in an area of the skin that it will more closely match and therefore be less obvious. Skin grafting covers the scar with a healthy patch of skin from another part of the body.

For treating hypertrophic acne scars, a dermabrasion system can work to exfoliate and leave a softer surface. Another way how to get rid of acne scars and other larger facial scars is to cut it out and seal with tiny stitches. Unfortunately, there is no complete way for healing hypertrophic acne scars.