Burn Injury Resource Center
Treatment of skin scars:
- Steroid injection: this is done by injecting steroid into the scar itself. This may help flatten and soften the appearance of a keloid or hypertrophic scar.
- Cryotherapy: it involves freezing the scar with a medication.
- Compression garments: this type of treatment is often used when the scar covers a large area. It is only effective on fresh or recent scars.
- Silicone sheeting and gel: this method involves using silicone sheets and gel which may improve the scar appearance and may decrease itching by keeping the skin hydrated.
- Dermabrasion: this method involves the removal of the surface of the skin with a special device; it is useful in raised scars.
- Surgery: it involves removing the scar with an incision then placing stitches to help close the wound. Sometimes skin graft is used in this method to help close the wound; this may be used with other methods such as silicone gel use. Tissue expansion may be used which involve a surgical procedure that increases the amount of existing tissue which will be available for reconstructive purposes. There is a high recurrence rate after keloid excision surgery.
- Laser surgery: this method involves the use of different lasers depending on the underlying cause of scar, it may be used to smooth the scar, remove abnormal color of a scar, or flatten a scar, this method is often done with other methods like steroid injection.
- Radiotherapy: this method involves the use of low dose superficial radiotherapy, used to prevent the recurrence of severe keloid and hypertrophic scars.
- Treatment of scars can be challenging and may involve the use of more than one method.
- You can minimize the scar tissue by following the instructions given to you by your physician, this may involve wearing your compression garments if they were prescribed for you for 23 hours a day, do your exercise and pressure massage.
This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.