Minor or major injuries happen to us every day. Be it through accidents, operations, burns or carelessness. Any of these wounds can turn into an annoying scar. The reason is obvious: In case of an injury, the body immediately activates a self-healing mechanism with the aim of closing the wound. Unfortunately, scars often remain as a visible sign.
What happens when the skin is injured?
When the skin is injured by an external agent, a wound is created. A wound can occur in a variety of ways, such as.
- By a mechanical injury, for example, by cutting, stabbing, crushing or biting.
- By exposure to heat, as in the case of burns or scalds
- Chemically, for example by cauterization
The body responds to an injury with a series of precisely coordinated steps with the aim of closing the wound and bring about healing. Complete healing is possible, for example, in the case of internal organs.
How do scars develop?
In skin wounds, however, the body can only repair. The resulting “gap” is first closed with a blood clot and then filled with connective tissue from the inside – a scar is formed.
Characteristics of a scar
This scar differs in function and appearance from the surrounding skin:
- The scar is first red, later it becomes white, and it remains lighter.
- Also, hair, sebaceous or sweat glands are not newly formed in the scar tissue.
- The scar tissue has less elastic fibers (collagen), so shrinkage and hardening may occur: The scar may pull inward.
- The scar tissue also has less blood supply, the tissue contains less water.
Well cared for surgical operation wounds with smooth wound edges, which are quite close together, usually heal quickly and without problems. A surgical scar is very small and narrow – almost not visible.
Problematic scars
But healing is not always so problem-free. Wounds that involve larger areas of skin or where non-smooth wound edges are widely separated require a much longer healing time. Here, too, connective tissue fills the defect. What remains is often a wide, conspicuous and also cosmetically unattractive scar. Some scars cause problems during and after healing: they do not close properly, become bulging and hard, and tense. If a scar is on or over joints, it can pinch and limit mobility.
Types of scars
The following types of problematic scars are distinguished:
- Atrophic scar
The wound heals poorly, the formation of new connective tissue fibers is not sufficient. A “sunken” scar is formed, which is below the level of the skin (scar deepening). - Hypertrophic scar
It develops shortly after wound healing or still in its course. There is an overproduction of connective tissue fibers. The scar tends to bulge, it rises above the surrounding skin level, but basically remains confined to the original injury area. Hypertrophic scars can occur especially if the wound is not immobilized or spared or if an infection also occurs. These scars are often itchy or painful. - Scar keloid
It develops only after a long time after completion of wound healing by strong overproduction of connective tissue fibers, which always proliferate cancer scissor-like beyond the wound area into the healthy tissue. This mainly affects adolescents and young adults of the female sex. Scars on areas of the body that are exposed to high skin tension also tend to form keloids. This tendency is relatively often inherited. Furthermore, keloids occur about ten times more frequently in people with dark skin than in people with white skin. Keloid scars also often cause itching or pain and are often very red.
Scar care
A scarred skin needs attention and should not be neglected. Proven here for many years the treatment with ointments, for example Contractubex. The earlier therapy is started after wound closure, the more promising the treatment and the result. Scar therapy is like sports: only perseverance is rewarded. But older scars also benefit from effective scar treatment.Several times a day, the scar gel should be applied to the scar and lightly massaged into the tissue. This makes the tissue soft and supple again, itching and feelings of tension are reduced. Fresh scars should be protected from external irritation and dehydration.
5 Tips for the care of scars
Follow these scar care tips to help your scars heal better:
- Fresh scars should not be exposed to strong temperature stimuli for about six months to a year. Intensive sun and UV radiation, solarium, sauna visits and cold can negatively affect the new, particularly sensitive tissue in its scar formation and disrupt the regeneration of the tissue. In addition, undesirable changes in the color and texture of the skin may occur. Protect the scar from sun exposure with a particularly light-strong preparation.
- Avoid tight or abrasive clothing over scarred skin. Scar tissue is more sensitive than healthy skin and may react to such irritation with redness and induration.
- Be careful not to re-injure the scar tissue, for example by hard shoe edges. Also, a fresh scar can easily burst open during sports due to the impact of, for example, a ball. The chances of healing are then less favorable, because an already damaged skin can no longer regenerate so well.
- Spare especially scars that are close to the bone, for example, the elbow, shin or ankle.
- Relatively smooth scars on the face, neck or décolleté area can be covered by a targeted make-up technique (camouflage, French word for concealment), for example, for an evening in the short term.
