A hypertrophic scar is, quite simply, a scar caused by surgery or injury. The scar tends to be raised and thick and colored red. It’s one of the few scars that can actually form spontaneously thanks to an injury. The scars emerge as a response from your body due to surgery, burns or some other form of trauma. The fact the scar is highly visible in the area of the body surrounding an injury can be devastating to the person who suffered the trauma. The amount of scarring and skin disfigurement can have a profound effect on the self-image of a person.
The reason a hypertrophic scar grows is due to some part of the healing process going awry. The glitches in the healing process tend to cause a glut of collagen threads in the injured area that can also result in an itchy feeling around the scarred area.
While hypertrophic scars have been known to heal on their own, there are some treatment options available for patients. The choices range from a needling treatment that can be performed at home to going to your doctor’s office for collagen and steroid injections. In some extreme situations, doctors are willing to perform radiotherapy. Since the radiotherapy option involves cutting open the scar during the treatment, it is not the most commonly used choice.
While any and all of the above options might be a good fit for you, it’s best to consult with your doctor before deciding on any one treatment. The amount of scarring you have before starting the healing process will have a big impact on the final treatment decision.