When a wound begins to heal, your body generates a protective covering of collagen across the open area. As a result, the skin around the wound expands over the collagen until it meets in the middle, creating a scar. Our medical practice offices located in Springfield, Grove City, and Dublin, Ohio, provide expert treatment for an array of scars, including hypertrophic, atrophic, keloid, and contracture scars.
- Hypertrophic scars are elevations on your skin, created through collagen surplus. The raised patch remains within the area of the original injury. These scars might appear red and somewhat dense. Over time, as the scar matures, hypertrophic scars can become less noticeable.
- Atrophic scars, in contrast, are indented rather than raised from the skin. These are formed when the skin fails to regenerate tissue. Acne is the most prevalent cause of an atrophic scar.
- A keloid is an enlarged scar that continues to expand and become more conspicuous than the initial scar or wound. Keloid scars can occur after the skin is injured or damaged in the form of a cut, burn, body piercing, or even surgery. This exaggerated, denser scar occurs when the body overproduces collagen, a protein found throughout the body. Individuals with darker skin tones are more prone to develop this type of scar. Unlike other scars, keloid scars will not naturally fade over time.
- Contracture scars develop when a large area of skin is damaged, such as with a burn. These scars tighten as they mature, reducing your mobility.
Before determining the best treatment, Buckeye Dermatology evaluates your scar to identify its type, the duration you have had it, and to ensure that there are no signs of other issues, such as skin cancer.
Typically, scars can be identified through a visual skin examination. Our team at Buckeye Dermatology occasionally encounters other conditions that may initially resemble a type of scar. We may conduct a skin biopsy for microscopic diagnosis in our laboratory. Once identified, we can manage scars through surgical scar revision, steroid injections or creams, silicone dressings or gels, laser therapy, and cryotherapy. Set up an appointment with one of our expert providers in Springfield, Grove City, or Dublin, Ohio for diagnosis and treatment.