You know a hypertrophic scar is forming when the healing skin becomes a red, firm, raised, and thickened bump that stays within the original wound's boundaries, often appearing weeks after injury and feeling itchy, tight, or tender. It's an overproduction of collagen, making it thicker and potentially uncomfortable, but unlike keloids, it doesn't grow beyond the wound's edges.
If a keloid or hypertrophic scar occurs, they are usually easy to identify based on the physical symptoms:
Hypertrophic scars usually start to develop within weeks after the injury to the skin. Hypertrophic scars may improve naturally, although this process may take up to a year or more. In treating hypertrophic scars, steroids may be the first line of therapy with this type of scar, although there is not one simple cure.
Prevention – Key factors to prevent keloids and hypertrophic scars include promoting rapid wound healing by keeping the wound clean and moisturized, fixing the wound with paper tape to reduce tension, and reducing inflammation at an early stage during the wound healing process.
Hypertrophic scar (HTS) is a dermal form of fibroproliferative disorder which often develops after thermal or traumatic injury to the deep regions of the skin and is characterized by excessive deposition and alterations in morphology of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.
Key Differences: Hypertrophic vs.
Normal scars follow a predictable pattern: they start pink or red, gradually flatten, and fade to a color close to the surrounding skin within 12–18 months. Hypertrophic scars plateau in height and color intensity but resist natural flattening.
Scars can vary in size, shape, color, and texture. They may appear as flat, raised, indented, or discolored areas on the skin. The color of a scar may range from pink or red during the early stages of healing to a lighter or darker shade compared to the surrounding skin over time.
In general, keeping a hypertrophic or keloid scar moist will help to alleviate symptoms. Any topical moisturizer (Eucerin®, aloe vera, Vaseline®, mineral oil, etc.) applied several times each day is recommended.
A hypertrophic scar is a thick raised scar. It's an abnormal response to wound healing in which extra connective tissue forms within the original wound area. The result a raised scar. Normally, a small wound to the top layer of your skin heals nicely.
The treatment for keloid and hypertrophic scars involves a course of steroid injections to help soften and flatten as well as relieve the symptoms of pain or itching. The application of silicone in sheet or gel form may also be advised, to help reduce the size or restrict the growth of the keloid or hypertrophic scar.
Signs and symptoms might include: Thick, irregular scarring, typically on the earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or middle chest. Shiny, hairless, lumpy, raised skin. Varied size, depending on the size of the original injury and when the keloid stops growing.
HEIGHT - Hypertrophic scars are visible and oftentimes raised above the skin, although they rarely exceed 4mm in height. On the rare occasion, a hypertrophic scar may not be raised, but a differentiating factor of keloid scars is that they are always raised above the skin - typically by more than 4mm.
Hypertrophic scars can be symptomatic - causing burning, itching, or discomfort. These thickened, raised scars are more likely to occur in areas where there is significant tension on a healing wound; examples include the back, chest, shoulder, elbows, or knees.
Scar tissue, which consists of a tough, fibrous protein called collagen, forms when the body repairs a wound. Common causes of scars include injury, surgery, and infection. As scar tissue begins to form, it may appear red, raised, and hard, but over time it fades, flattens, and softens.
Topical silicon gel is safe and effective treatment for hypertrophic and keloidal scars. It is easy to apply and cosmetically acceptable.
Hypertrophic scars can be firm or soft to the touch, and also bumpy or smooth. They can occur anywhere on the body, but they are most common on the chest, shoulders, back, and earlobes. Hypertrophic scars can be itchy or painful, but unlike the keloids, this is not always the case.
Unlike keloids, hypertrophic scars can improve on their own over time. Many will naturally flatten and fade over one to two years as the body remodels the scar tissue. However, this natural improvement is not guaranteed and is often incomplete.
Bio-Oil focuses on deep hydration and moisturization, making it ideal for scar management. associated with post-surgical scars, as well as common scars like hypertrophic or keloid.
Smoking and Nicotine Use Severely Impair Wound Healing
Smokers are up to 10 times more likely to develop problematic scars, including thick, raised keloids and hypertrophic scars. Even secondhand smoke, nicotine patches, and e-cigarettes can interfere with the healing process.
Once there is no more scab and the wound is visibly closed (which means that the skin has healed) you can start caring for your scar with topical creams or oils.
Wet or moist treatment of wounds has been shown to promote re-epithelialization and result in reduced scar formation, as compared to treatment in a dry environment.
Between approximately four and eight weeks the scar will look much wider and redder than it did initially. This is usually the worst the scar will look, and this is a natural part of the healing process. The scar will tend to remain red for 1-6 months afterwards.
Dr. Condie says, “There are numerous factors that impact the body's ability to heal, which means no one will take the same amount of time to recover from an injury to their skin, but there are four main phases of healing that should be expected: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.” Below, Dr.
Anecdotal reports claim that vitamin E speeds wound healing and improves the cosmetic outcome of burns and other wounds. Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.