Do you have a scar? How to make it stop itching? Find out why is it itching and how to treat it.
Scars happen after a surgery or injury when the skin is healed. The skin is a smooth and continuous organ that protects the vital internal body parts.
Just like a fine cloth or a piece of silk, a single tear can create a very big difference, in the way it looks.
The same case applies to the skin. Any injury, burn, or any form of trauma like surgery, can lead to it. There is nothing wrong with a scar, especially if it is small or even easy to conceal.
However, there are certain times when it is not easy to hide it under clothes. If you have such a scar, you might be feeling depressed or even looking for solutions to remove it.
Check how to deal with it so it won’t itch anymore.
Scar healing process
Scarring is the natural process of wound repair. Once the skin is wounded, the body’s tissue is also damaged.
The body reacts by producing a protein known as collagen in large quantities. This happens as a part of the healing process.
Does collagen heal scars?
Once collagen has been produced, it usually builds up around the damaged tissue. This helps to strengthen and heal the wound.
For around three months, collagen is continuously produced which is followed by an increased blood supply.
When this is happening, the wound is pushed further up to the surface of the skin and turns red and lumpy.
Some collagen will break down at the wound, while blood supply gradually reduces.
The scar slowly becomes paler, softer, and smoother. Damage to the dermis, which is the deeper layer of the skin, will always lead to it.
On the other hand, damage to the epidermis, which is the outer surface, doesn’t always produce a scar.
A scar is not just a change in skin color. If that was the case, then it would be very easy to manage it.
When does a scar starts to fade?
However, the structure of the scarred skin is slightly altered. Although most of them are permanent, they tend to fade within two years.
If they don’t fade during this time, chances are very small that they will ever fade.
Types of scars
The final appearance of a scar is determined by the type of wound that led to it, the maintenance of the wound, various genetic factors, as well as the anatomical position of the wound.
With these factors, the following types of scars can occur.
Keloid scars
These ones occur due to an extra aggressive healing process.
They usually spread beyond the original injury. In serious situations, keloids can even limit movement and can lead to itchiness.
How to get rid of keloids?
Some of the treatment methods applied include surgical removal of the scar, silicone sheets for flattening the scar, as well as steroid injections.
In a situation where the keloids are not extended, freezing therapy can be applied, using nitrogen.
Who are prone to keloids?
Keloid formation can also be prevented through pressure treatment or even use of gel pads with silicone, immediately after injury.
People with dark skin are at a higher risk of developing keloid scars, due to the nature of their skin.
Contracture scars
This type usually occurs after a burn. They are known for tightening the skin, which can even prevent or limit mobility.
They also tend to spread deeper to the point of affecting nerves and muscles.
Hypertrophic scars
Hypertrophic scars are usually red and raised. They are resemble to keloids but don’t extend beyond the area of the injury.
Available treatment methods include silicone sheets for flattening the skin, as well as steroid injections that reduce inflammations.
Acne scars
These are not usually classified as scars per se, but they still change the original appearance and texture of the skin.
If you have ever suffered from severe acne, chances are very high that you bear them as a result.
They can occur in different forms, ranging from angular or wavelike scars to deep pits. How can you treat them?
The best way is to have:
- Skincare at home
- Soft tissue fillers
- Laser resurfacing
- Energy-based procedures
- Dermabrasion
- Chemical peeling
- Needling or rolling
- Surgery
- Botox injections
Itching scar treatment
So, how to make scars stop itching? As previously highlighted, scars are a part of the natural healing process.
Therefore, they aren’t treated in ordinary circumstances. They only require treatment when they are cosmetically undesirable. This situation only applies to superficial ones.
The ones that can be treated include those in anatomical regions, scars that can lead to keloids or the ones that can lead to serious anatomical distortion.
Over the counter prescriptions
Over the counter prescriptions include gels, ointments, or creams. These methods are usually applied to cure scars resulting from cuts as well as other minor wounds or injuries.
If your scarring occurred due to plastic surgery, then you can consult with your surgeon about the best prescriptions available for your situation.
Keloids and thick ones normally flatten out after steroid injections, straight to the fibrous tissue of the scar.
Surgical treatment for scars
When the scars are deeper, then extensive methods of treatment can be applied. Each case will determine the particular method that is recommendable.
In short, there is no universal method of treatment that can be applied to all of them.
How is a skin graft performed?
Methods include skin grafts, dermabrasion, laser surgery, or excision. During skin grafting, the surgeon will transfer skin from another part of the body.
This method is particularly used on people who have suffered serious burns. Any scar that impairs function can be corrected using surgery.
If you have it due to recent surgery, then you should wait for at least two years, before you can decide to go for its treatment.
Scars usually fade after some time and become obscure.
How do steroid injections help scars?
Steroid injections are used to treat hypertrophic scars, the ones sticking out or keloids. Injections help in flattening them, as well as minimizing their texture.
This method may also be used in conjunction with others.
Cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgery is also becoming a popular treatment method for scars. We can elevate depressed ones with cosmetic skin fillers.
Laser treatments are very effective in healing various forms or facial scars. There is also surgical revision, which can give it a more desirable look.
Bottom line
As much as scars occur due to the normal healing process, they can cause distress or decrease a person’s self-esteem, especially when they are cosmetically undesirable.
If you have an itchy scar, then you surely want to know how to make it stop itching. Various methods for its treatment can be applied, depending on the nature of the scar.
It is advisable that you cure them naturally with home remedies as soon as possible or to see a doctor.
