After an injury the body has a natural way of healing any open wounds. Skin cells and fibroblasts begin proliferating to repair the damage. 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. But, if the fibroblasts are created at a faster rate that the skin cells, they will form a thick cluster that keep the skin cells from reaching the surface. This unusual process forms a raised scar also known as a keloid or hypertrophic scar.

What makes these types of scars different? 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 scars that exceed the area of the original wound. They look like puckered, itchy clusters of scar tissue that rise above the rest of the skin. These raised scars are irregularly shaped and, unlike other types of scars, usually tend to grow larger and more prominent with time.

They range in color from pink to red and sometimes become quite large and unattractive. Keloids can also tend to be itchy, painful 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

Hypertrophic scars are caused because the body overproduces collagen. This excessive production of collagen leads to a raised scar like a keloid scar. However, hypertrophic scars do not grow beyond the limits of the original wound like keloid scars do.

Treating Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars

There are quite treatments for raised scars. However, we will focus on two alternatives: compression therapy and corticosteroid injections

Compression therapy entails applying pressure to the scar and the area around it. Scientific tests have shown that the pressure applied to the scar reduces the cohesivemess of collagen fibers and deters the formation of hypertrophic scars. Some of the elements used in compression therapy include ACE bandages, elastic adhesive bandages, compression wraps, spandex or Lycra bandages.

For a long time, corticosteroid injections have been used as a common treatment to encourage 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.