Understanding Scars

victoriahill246

Aug 12

3 min read

Scars are a part of life. Whether they come from childhood adventures, surgeries, or accidents, these marks tell stories of resilience and healing. However, not all scars are created equal, and some can be a source of pain or discomfort. Scars are not just on the skin, they can go much deeper into the underlying tissues, depending on the mechanism of injury. In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of scars and how Scar Therapy can help with problematic ones.

Types of Scars

Scars can vary widely in appearance, texture, and cause. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:

1. Healthy Scar

Healthy scars follow a normal tissue healing pathway, common features of a healthy scar:

Moves comfortably with the skin and underlying tissue and doesn't restrict movement
Gradually fades from pink/red to a lighter tone (often paler than surrounding skin)
Texture is smooth or slightly raised at first, then tends to soften and flatten over time
It may initially be itchy or sensitive but this gradually fades

2. Hypertrophic Scars

Hypertrophic scars typically present 4-8 weeks after the initial trauma due to an overproduction of collagen during the healing process. Common features are:

Raised and thickened areas of skin
These scars typically remain within the boundaries of the original injury
Can be red and itchy
Often found in areas of high skin tension, such as across joints

3. Keloid Scars

Keloids are a more severe form of hypertrophic scars. Features include:

Extending beyond the original wound site
Continuing to grow over time and can have a firm, rubbery texture
Can be painful, itchy, and may require further treatment such as steroid injections.

Scar therapy offers a range of options to help improve the appearance of scars and boost your function, comfort and confidence. Here’s how it works:

1. Manual Therapy

Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques to manipulate soft tissues. This can help improve circulation, reduce tissue tension, and promote healing. These techniques are gentle and may combine techniques such as:

Brushing along the scar
Gently depressing and stretching the tissues
Lifting the tissues from underlying layers.
Silicone cupping to lift the tissues and increase blood flow.

2. Stretching and Range of Motion Exercises

Incorporating stretching and range of motion exercises into scar therapy can help maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness. Techniques include:

Active Stretching: Engaging in stretches that involve movement can help improve the overall function of the affected area.
Passive Stretching: Relaxing into a stretch where your body weight alone does the stretching for you.
Therapist assisted stretching: Where your therapist applies pressure for in a specific direction at a specified strength.

3. Taping Techniques

Utilising kinesiology tape can support scar tissue while allowing for movement. This technique can help reduce pain and improve circulation around the scar area.
Silicone scar tapes can also promote healing and flexibility of the scar by helping to draw moisture into the tissues.

4. Silicone Gel Sheets

Silicone gel sheets are a great option that can help flatten and soften raised scars. They work by hydrating the scar and regulating collagen production, making them a popular choice for hypertrophic and keloid scars. They can also be really beneficial for particularly sensitive scars, providing an extra layer of protection.

5. Silicone Lined Compression Garments

Silicone lined compression garments are only used for particularly severe or extensive scarring, burns or keloid scars. The compression helps to flatten scars and prevent raised scarring from forming and the silicone helps soften the scar tissue and keep it hydrated. These are often custom made and can be measured and ordered through Brae Physio.

6. Education and Self-Care Techniques

Teaching patients self-massage techniques and how to care for their scars at home is crucial. This empowers individuals to take an active role in their healing process.

Timing

It is never too late to treat a scar, a scar can benefit from treatment years after the initial trauma. Ideally, however, scar treatment should start around 8 weeks after the trauma.

Lymphatic Flow

Softening scar tissue can greatly enhance lymphatic drainage. For individuals with lymphatic problems and scarring, often resulting from cancer treatments, incorporating scar therapy into a patient's lymphatic therapy can significantly improve results.

Conclusion

Scars can be complex and limit mobility and function, Scar Therapy can significantly enhance the healing process and lead to improved outcomes and patient satisfaction.