|
When a wound heals a scar is formed. Some are light, some are hard, some are red and some are raised. Scars are unattractive and ugly. They look different from the normal skin around them. They may be anywhere on the body but because of their looks; they attract unwanted attention, which makes a person feel self-conscious and bothered. All wounds result in a scar. There are different kinds of scars. The scar, which is red, thick and raised but remains within the boundary of the wound, is a hypertrophic scar. Most hypertrophic scars improve on its own within a year or so. And if they do not do so, they can be lightened or made to look insignificant by the use of gels or lotions, steroid injections or surgery. Hypertrophic scars are often confused with other type of scars like the keloids.
An injury or a burn or a wound or even acne and tattoos can result in scar formation. The body heals itself by producing collagens, which are responsible for scar formation. In many cases the scars fade but they never go away whatever the patient does. If the scar is on an exposed part of the body the patient would surely like to remove it, if possible. Today plastic surgery holds promises of making a scar look insignificant even though it cannot make it totally disappear. In cases of acne they may be concave ones. They all have one thing in common and that is, they don’t look good.
Doctors first advise the patient to wait for some time. Generally these scars lighten in about a year’s time. If they don’t, then some corticosteroid injections injected into the scar tissue might help. The scars may fade or at least look less conspicuous. Some creams or oil or some medicines may be prescribed to make these hypertrophic scars lessen. The final solution is surgery. The surgeon would remove the scar tissue and use sutures to close the wound. This wound will also produce a scar but it may be more bearable.
Hypertrophic scarring happens to anyone, there is no age limit, nor is there any gender bias. However some skins are more prone to scars and it may even be hereditary. It is said that people with lighter skins are more prone to scarring. It may be that scars show up on lighter skins and lesser on darker skins. Hope that answered your question, what is a hypertrophic scar. |
