How to Treat Hypertrophic Scars

Hypertrophic scars generally appear as raised, red bumps or lumps on the surface of the skin. They usually do not extend beyond the boundaries of the wound that led to the scarring. Over time, hypertrophic scars usually heal gradually and improve in appearance. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to expedite the healing process. With regular care, you can significantly reduce the appearance of your hypertrophic scars and even get rid of them altogether.

Things You'll Need

• Scar treatment cream
• Fading cream
• Chemical peels
• Laser therapy
• Vitamin E

Instructions

1. Apply scar treatment cream to your hypertrophic scars. These creams are available over-the-counter in most drug stores. They often contain natural ingredients like onion extract which gradually reduce the appearance of scars. They do work slowly so you'll need to use the cream for at least 12 weeks before seeing results.

2. Massage your hypertrophic scars. Massage increases circulation, allowing nutrients and blood to more easily reached the scarred area. These vital elements help to expedite the healing process. In addition, massage helps to break up scar tissue. Rub the scarred area for at least two minutes daily.

3. Use fading cream on your scars. Hypertrophic scars are often red, purple or pink in color. If you regular apply a fading or bleaching cream, you can gradually lighten the scars so they blend in with surrounding skin. Fading creams are available in most drug and beauty supply stores.

4. Try chemical peels. Chemicals will be applied that essentially burn away the top layers of your skin. Once your skin recovers from the peel, it will look younger and your scars will be less noticeable. Generally, a series of peels are necessary to seriously improve your hypertrophic scars.

5. Get laser therapy. Laser light targets darker pigmentation and scar tissue in hypertrophic scars, effectively breaking them up. The light also encourages collagen production, making skin look firmer and smoother. Laser therapy can remove most scars, though repeated sessions are often needed.

6. Puncture a vitamin E capsule and squeeze the contents onto your hypertrophic scars. Vitamin E is essential to overall skin health and significantly aids skin's healing process.

Tips & Warnings

• Eat a healthy diet. Proper nutrition is essential to skin health.

• Do not pick at your scars. This can damage your skin even further.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• AOCD
• eMedicineHealth