Scarring and Stretchmarks

A scar is a result of the body's healing response and replacing lost or damaged skin. Scars may be formed for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue.

What is it?

When a wound starts to heal, your body generates a layer of collagen - a protein found throughout the body - to cover the exposed region. Following this, the skin around the wound expands over the collagen until the ends unite in the middle, resulting in a scar. Dermatologists of Greater Columbus offers treatment for various types of scars such as hypertrophic, atrophic, keloid, and contracture scars.

Hypertrophic scars are elevated from your skin, resulting from an overproduction of collagen. The elevated region remains within the confines of the original injury. These scars may appear red and somewhat thick. Over time, hypertrophic scars may lessen as they mature.

Contrarily, atrophic scars are indented rather than raised from the skin. These form when the skin is incapable of regenerating tissue. The most prevalent cause of an atrophic scar is acne.

A keloid refers to a thick scar that continues to expand and grow more noticeable than the initial scar or wound. Keloid scars can form following an injury or skin damage due to a cut, burn, body piercing, or even surgery. This enlarged, thicker scar occurs when the body overproduces collagen. Those with darker skin pigmentation are more prone to developing this type of scar. Unlike other scars, keloid scars will not diminish on their own over time.

Contracture scars occur when there is extensive skin damage, such as a burn. As they mature, contracture scars tighten, restricting your ability to move.

Before determining the most suitable treatment, our dermatology clinic assesses your scar to identify its type, the duration you've had it, and to ensure there are no indications of other issues like skin cancer.

How is it treated?

Most scars can typically be identified through a visual skin examination. Our team periodically encounters other skin conditions that may initially appear as a type of scar. In these cases, we may need to perform a skin biopsy for microscopic analysis in our laboratory.

Once we've made a diagnosis, we can offer a range of scar treatments, including surgical scar modification, steroid injections or creams, silicone bandages or gels, laser therapy and cryotherapy. For proper diagnosis and treatment, book an appointment with one of our board-certified dermatology providers in Dublin, Columbus, Canal Winchester, Urbana, Circleville, Washington Courthouse, Grove City or Marysville, Ohio.

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