While scars are common when wounds heal, hypertrophic scarring is a skin condition characterized by deposits of excessive amounts of collagen. This results in a thick and often raised scar.
Hypertrophic scars are a frequent complication of injuries and can also form after piercings, surgery, or even acne. Hypertrophic scars are similar to keloid scars but are often milder and do not grow beyond the boundaries of the original skin injury. Before treating a hypertrophic scar, it’s important to differentiate it from a keloid scar.
The goals of hypertrophic scar treatment are to flatten, soften, reduce the size, lighten the color, and ease any existing pain and itch of your scar. Waiting few months or even up to year before treating a scar is advisable. This allows the scar enough time to fully heal and possibly reduce in size and flatten on its own.