Back to Health A to Z. Scars are a natural part of the healing process. Most will fade although they never completely disappear. A minor wound like a cut will usually heal to leave a raised line, which will gradually fade and flatten over time. This process can take up to 2 years. The scar will not disappear completely and you'll be left with a visible mark or line. Fine-line scars are common following a wound or after surgery.
They are not usually painful, but they may be itchy for a few months. A keloid scar is an overgrowth of tissue that happens when too much collagen is produced at the site of a wound. Keloid scars are raised above the skin and can be pink, red, the same colour or darker than surrounding skin. They're often itchy or painful, and can restrict movement if they're tight and near a joint.
Like keloid scars, hypertrophic scars are the result of excess collagen being produced at the site of a wound. Unlike keloid scars, hypertrophic scars do not extend beyond the boundary of the original wound. They may continue to thicken for up to 6 months before gradually improving over a few years. Some scars caused by skin conditions, such as acne and chickenpox , can have a sunken or pitted appearance.
Pitted scars, also known as atrophic or "ice-pick" scars, can also develop as a result of an injury that causes a loss of underlying fat. The injury triggers the body to make collagen, a skin protein. Collagen fibers are naturally thicker and less flexible than surrounding skin. The nerve endings can become very sensitive and cause itchy sensations as they start healing. Sometimes, a scar can make the skin feel very tight. This is often the case if scarring occurs after a skin burn. Tight, stretched skin is often itchier.
Also, if you suddenly experience weight or skin changes, the scar may itch more. The same is true if you have dry skin. Surgical scars are often deeper than the average skin injury. Treatments for scarring can depend on the type of scar you have. But they may suggest it for large, hypertrophic scars that rise above the skin. Doctors will usually recommend noninvasive treatments first to reduce the itchiness and overall appearance of a scar. Examples of these types of treatments include:. This helps prevent scars from becoming hyperpigmented, or darker than the skin around them.
If a scar fails to respond to at-home treatments and causes significant discomfort or an undesirable appearance, a doctor may recommend invasive treatments. These include:. Your doctor will consider if the treatment will help improve the scar or make it worse. Itchy scar prevention can start before the scar forms.
Promoting healthy skin healing whenever possible is a big step to minimizing a scar and skin damage. Sometimes — for example, if you have a scar after having an operation or you have a disfiguring skin condition — you may be able to get camouflage make-up on the NHS. You should discuss this with a GP. Silicone gels or sheets can be used on healing skin not open wounds to help soften and flatten a scar.
They can also relieve itching and discomfort. To be effective, silicone gels or sheets should be placed over the scar for 12 hours a day for at least 3 months. They can be washed and reused. Ask a GP, dermatologist or pharmacist if they can recommend a suitable silicone-based scar treatment for you. Steroids cannot remove scars completely, but they can improve their appearance.
Corticosteroid injections can be used to treat some keloid and hypertrophic scars. The scar is injected a number of times to reduce any swelling and flatten it. Depending on the type of scar, the injections may need to be repeated. Injections are usually given on 3 occasions, 4 to 6 weeks apart, to assess your body's response.
Treatment may continue for several months if the scar is improving. Steroid-impregnated tape can also be used to try to flatten keloid scars. It can be prescribed by a GP or dermatologist and is applied for 12 hours a day. Laser or light therapy pulses of light can reduce the redness in a scar by targeting the blood vessels in the excess scar tissue.
For some pitted scars, laser surgery laser resurfacing is used to try to make the scar flatter. This involves using a laser to remove the top layers of skin, which stimulates collagen production in the deeper layers. But there are not many long-term studies to prove the effectiveness and safety of laser therapy.
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