A scar is an optical legacy of wound healing. Most scars are related to accidents and injuries. Especially falls and cuts can be the cause of large scars. Depending on how well the wound is disinfected, the higher the chance of not leaving any major scars.
What is a scar?
A scar is an old wound that is considered healed or is still in the healing process, but has left visible marks on the skin. If the wound is still healing, the scar or scab is blood red and forms a small crusty bump. Older hubs, such as surgical scars, often form skin-colored tumors that are clearly reminiscent of the suture after the operation. In the case of an injury-related scar, the course of the wound could still be seen quite clearly.
causes
The primary scar is not a scar in the medical sense - it is popularly referred to as such. The reddish scab consists of dried platelets that are held together with fibrin to close the wound. The actual formation of the scar only takes place after this stage.
The scar itself consists of inferior tissue that is created when the collagen network of the skin and the dermis are destroyed. Scar tissue is loose because it is also collagen, although it is not intertwined, but appears in a parallel arrangement.
A scar develops as a tissue of different color from the rest of the skin because there are no or very few melanocytes in the scar tissue.
Scars not only appear on the visible areas of the skin, but also on the heart muscle, for example after a heart attack. The muscle cells die after the infarction and scar tissue forms - this severely affects the pumping capacity. In turn, there is no scar tissue on the mucous membranes, which is why plastic surgery primarily relies on such incisions.
Diseases with this symptom
- acne
- Heart attack
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Wound healing disorders
- Hemangioma
- smallpox
Treatment & Therapy
A scar cannot be treated because it arises by itself when a corresponding wound heals - it is the only possible form of permanent wound closure. However, its course and appearance can be influenced, so that the aesthetic burden on the wearer of the scar is less significant.
Good wound care to prevent complications or infections ensures that no clearly visible scar forms. If the scar is a raised lump or if it has developed deformed due to complications, it is possible to remove it surgically or with laser radiation - but new scars can form again. For burn wounds, compression bandages are used for months and years to keep the scarring under control.
Complications
A scar is an inferior, fiber-rich replacement tissue that forms after the network of the skin has been destroyed. Especially when the scar is still very fresh and it is in the healing state, a scar must be cared for and kept clean. Otherwise, very serious complications can arise that can be fatal.
If a fresh scar is not kept clean, the tissue can become inflamed very quickly. In the early stages, this complication can be contained and eliminated by taking antibiotics. However, if the tissue becomes inflamed and the said medication is not taken, there is a risk of blood poisoning. The tissue threatens to perish, so that subsequent limbs even have to be amputated.
A doctor should therefore be consulted at the first signs of inflammation. At the latest when pus can be seen on the scar, a doctor should be consulted urgently. Scars that have to be closed with a suture can also become infected very quickly during the wound healing process. Here, too, the following applies: urgently avoid contamination and keep the wound clean. This way, the healing process is not disturbed and there is no risk of inflammation.
When should you go to the doctor?
A scar does not necessarily require medical treatment and in many cases heals on its own. A doctor should then be consulted if the scar causes severe pain in the affected area. The pain can spread from the scar to different parts of the body. A doctor should also be visited if the scar is bleeding or purulent. In these cases, the scar can develop into an inflammation, which must definitely be treated medically. Mild pain on a scar is a common symptom, but the pain disappears after a few days. If the pain persists, the scar must be examined by a doctor.
An emergency doctor can be called or hospitalized after an accident or acute pain. However, if the symptoms are only mild, a dermatologist can help. It should be noted that not all scars heal completely and some can stay on the skin forever.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Outlook & forecast
A scar does not necessarily mean that there are additional difficulties or complications. The further course of healing for a scar depends heavily on the general condition of the person concerned and the scar itself. A scar usually heals within a few weeks or months. Whether and how quickly the scar heals depends heavily on how it was created. Most scars, however, heal within just a few weeks.
Often the scar itself is painful. This pain is common for the first few days after the scar appears, but it should subside over time. If the scar continues to hurt after a long time, a doctor should be consulted.
Inflammation and infections can occur on the scar itself, which can spread to the entire body. Therefore, hygienic treatment of the scar is extremely important. The skin on the scar is often tight and dry. Treatment with creams is recommended here.
If a scar starts bleeding again after a while, a doctor should be consulted immediately. This can lead to consequential damage. Most of the time, however, scars heal after a short time and do not lead to further symptoms.
prevention
If there is a scar or an injury to the skin that also affects the dermis, care should be taken to keep the wound clean and sterile and to bandage and disinfect it properly. This way you avoid complications and scars. After an operation you should leave the wound care to the nursing staff in the hospital, with deeper incisions you can also ensure that the wound heals without complications.
If you have been to the hospital to have the wound tended, you should get an explanation of how it should be treated afterwards, as you usually have to take this into your own hands. This also applies to the time after discharge from the hospital, because at this point in time wounds have often not yet healed due to an operation.
You can do that yourself
Usually there is no need to see a doctor if there is a scar. If the scar is not painful and does not cause any further complications, no home treatment is necessary. However, the scar can be covered with various creams and other care products in order to accelerate the healing process of the skin. In many cases, however, it cannot be ruled out that a scar will remain on the body forever and will no longer heal.
In most cases, however, a scar does not lead to further complications and does not require special treatment. The care products should be antiseptic and donate moisture and fat to the scar. This speeds up healing. However, if the scar hurts, bleeds, or festers, a doctor should be consulted. This can quickly lead to an infection or inflammation.
If the scar is still relatively fresh, it should be covered with a plaster or a bandage. This prevents dirt and germs from getting onto the scar and thus delaying the healing process. Treatment with medication does not usually take place; only in a few cases does an antibiotic have to be taken to treat an infection. A scar massage can relieve pain and relax the skin.
