The body has a natural way of healing any open wounds. The production of skin cells and fibroblasts are the first step in the reparation process. The skin cells migrate towards the network created by the fibroblasts to close the wound.

In a healthy healing process, the fibroblasts and skin cells have the same rate of production and produce a normal scar that will fade with time. However, if the fibroblasts reproduce faster than the skin cells, they will form a dense band that impedes the migration of the skin cells to the wound. The result, in this case, is a raised scar known as a keloid scar or hypertrophic scar.

What is the difference between these types of scars? The following text will take a look a the main differences between these two types of scars as well as the hypertrophic and keloid scar treatment

Keloid Scars

Keloid scars are types of scars that expand beyond the area of the original cut or lesion. They look like puckered, itchy clusters of scar tissue that rise above the rest of the skin. These raised scars are irregular in shape and, unlike other types of scars, they usually get worse and larger with time.

They range in color from pink to red and sometimes become quite large and unattractive. Besides their undesirable appearance, keloids tend to be itchy and tender to the touch. On a microscopic level, keloid scars are a mass of thick collagen levels that form nodules deep within the scar tissue.

Hypertrophic Scars

The over production of collagen is what leads to hypertrophic scars. The result of this anomaly is a raised scar like a keloid scar. However, hypertrophic scars are limited to the site of the original wound unlike keloid scars.

Methods for Treating for Raised Scars

There are several treatments for raised scars. But, we will take a look at a couple of the most common ones: compression therapy and corticosteroid injections

Compression therapy has to do with applying pressure directly to the scarred area. Studies have shown that applying pressure to the scar leads to the reduction in the cohesiveness of collagen fibers. Compression treatments include ACE bandages, elastic adhesive bandages, compression wraps, spandex or Lycra bandages among others.

Intralesional corticosteroid injections have be a common treatment to promote hypertrophic scar healing. Corticosteroids reduce excessive scarring by reducing collagen synthesis, by altering glucosaminoglycan synthesis and by inhibiting the production of fibroblast proliferation during wound healing.

Raised scars can also be treated with surgery, cryo treatments and laser therapy. Be sure to check with your doctor to choose the best option for you.

If abnormal scar healing leads to raised scars, you do have several treatment options. Besides compression therapy and corticosteroid injections, raised scars treatments can include deep tissue massages and skin exfoliation.