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A scar is a result of the body's healing response and replacing lost or damaged skin. Scars may be formed for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries or inflammation of tissue.
What is it?
During wound healing, your body generates a collagen layer to fill the open space. The skin around the wound then expands over this collagen, eventually meeting in the middle, which leads to the formation of a scar. Our medical practice located in Huntington, West Virginia, addresses various types of scars such as hypertrophic, atrophic, keloid and contracture scars.
Hypertrophic scars are elevated from your skin, a result of surplus collagen. The heightened area remains within the original injury's confines. These scars may be red and somewhat thick. Over time, as the scar matures, hypertrophic scars may fade.
Atrophic scars, conversely, are indented rather than elevated from the skin surface. These scars appear when the skin fails to rebuild tissue. The leading cause of an atrophic scar is acne.
A keloid is a bulky scar that continues to enlarge, surpassing the initial scar or wound's prominence. Keloids can occur after skin trauma like a cut, burn, body piercing or even surgical procedure. This expanded, thicker scar forms when the body generates too much collagen - a protein present throughout the body. Individuals with darker skin tones are more prone to develop this type of scar. Contrary to other scar types, keloid scars do not naturally fade over time.
Contracture scars develop when there is extensive skin damage, such as a burn. As they mature, these scars tighten, restricting your movement capability.
Before choosing a suitable treatment, our dermatology clinic in Huntington, West Virginia, assesses your scar to identify its type, its duration and to ensure there are no indications of other conditions like skin cancer.
How is it treated?
Generally, scars can be identified through a simple visual examination of the skin. However, at our dermatology clinic, we often encounter other conditions that initially present like various types of scars. To accurately diagnose your scar, we may need to perform a skin biopsy and examine it microscopically in our laboratory. Once we've confirmed a diagnosis, we have multiple treatment options available, such as surgical scar revision, injections or creams with steroids, silicone-based dressings or gels, laser therapy and cryotherapy. You can set up an appointment with our highly skilled practitioners in Huntington, West Virginia, for a thorough diagnosis and effective treatment.