Hypertrophic Scar Treatments
When the skin is damaged or wounded, scarring often occurs during the healing process. Hypertrophic scars are scars in which the skin has healed, but the scar is widened in response to stretching of the skin immediately adjacent to the wound. Hypertrophic scars are considered abnormal scars and are often disfiguring to the person with the scar. Hypertrophic scars can be treated in a variety of methods, including the use of pressure bandages to prevent hypertrophic scars, silicone gel, steroid injections, vitamin E and surgery.
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Pressure Bandages
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Brandon Wilhelmi, MD of the University of Louisville School of Medicine discusses the use of pressure bandages immediately following surgery or injury to the skin. Ace bandages and pressure stockings, gloves and arm wraps can be used to keep the skin held tightly together as a wound heals. This prevents stretching of the skin and allows the fat and collagen and skin tissues to bind together without needing to fill in gaps that may be caused by a wound. As a result, scars that form are thin and are without the disfiguring aspects of a hypertrophic scar.
Silicone Gel
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Another method of treatment described by Dr. Wilhelmi includes the use of silicone gel as a treatment modality. Silicone gel is applied at the hypertrophic scar site and over time the scar will disappear. Dr Wilhemi states that repeated studies have found that with adherence to the application instructions (apply nightly every day) there is an 80 to 100 percent success rate in the improvement of the appearance of hypertrophic scars.
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Steroid Injections
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Dr. Wilhelmi also discusses the use of steroid injections for the improvement of hypertrophic scars. He indicates that injection of steroids immediately adjacent to the scar has become the most popular method of treating hypertrophic scars. The most commonly used steroid is Kenalog (triamcinolone). This steroid has been used to successfully treat disfiguring hypertrophic scars and scars flatten and fade. One of the advantages of the use of steroid injections for the treatment of this type of scarring is that it can be used immediately when a disfiguring scar begins to appear.
Vitamin E
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Vitamin E oil is another method of treating hypertrophic scars according to Dr. Wilhelmi. Vitamin E oil can be purchased at almost any drug store, health food store or cosmetic surgery doctor's office. The oil is applied daily to the scar site and gradually, over time, it will fade and eventually blend in with natural skin. However, vitamin E may not be helpful as a treatment option for individuals who want immediate results or who are prone to difficult scars, including keloid scars.
Surgery
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Dr. Wilhelmi states that if non-surgical options have not resolved the issue of abnormal scarring, then surgical options may be considered. He also states that the best overall option is to avoid scarring by preventing it in the first place by orienting surgical cuts so that they are in the direction of the naturally relaxed skin. However, if this was not done, then surgery can be performed to extend the cut so that the scar is naturally oriented along the skin line. A Z-line surgical method cuts the scar in the shape of a "Z" so that it is less obvious on the skin line, but allows for correct healing of the skin.
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