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When scars become a problem

When scars become a problem

Our skin always responds to deeper injuries with the formation of scar tissue. This normal scar tissue is a kind of “repair tissue” with which our body fills and closes wounds.

Usually, the scar is small and flat, fading almost invisibly over time. In some wounds, however, our body is too much “repair fabric”, the scar is thrown up and hard, it can itch or hurt during weather change or just look ugly.

In case of bulging scars one speaks of hypertrophic scars. If the scar tissue even grows beyond the original wound, so-called keloids arise. These scars then have far more than just a cosmetic-aesthetic meaning. They can even lead to limited mobility of the affected region and must then be treated as mandatory.

Why our body can react with excessive scar formation is still not fully understood today. It is certain that some people have a predisposition to it. But also the type of injury affects the formation of scar tissue. For example, burn wounds, inflamed or contaminated wounds are more prone to hypertrophic scars.

The treatment of problematic scars falls in the area of ​​dermatologist and surgeon. The simplest measure is the use of certain scar gels or silicone compresses. If this is not enough, locally cortisone is used in the form of ointments or small syringes. The freezing of scars, the so-called cryotherapy, alone or in combination can be promising. The removal of a hypertrophic scar can also be done with the help of suitable laser systems. Sometimes scar tissue must also be surgically removed and plastically treated with skin grafts.

A scar treatment is always a very individual therapy, whereby the experienced doctor often has to combine several therapeutic modalities.
As you know, there are no miracles in the treatment of scars. However, an improvement can always be achieved through differentiated therapeutic measures.

Your Dr. Jens D. Löhnert
Specialist in dermatology, allergology and venereology
Aesthetic dermatology