In medical terminology Scars refer to areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin or other skin after an injury. A scar can result from the biological process of wound repair in the akin and well as other tissues of the body. However scarring is a natural healing process of the wound. Excluding minor lesions, every wound for example after accident, disease or surgery results in some degree of scarring.
It is observed that scar tissue is not identical to the tissue which it replaces and is usually of inferior functional quality. For example, scars in the skin are less resistant to ultraviolet radiation, and sweat glands and hair follicles do not grow back within scar tissue.
In some cases a mycocardial infraction, commonly known as a heart attack causes scar formation in the heart muscle which leads to loss of muscular power and possibly heart failure. However there are some tissues which can heal without any structural or functional deterioration and in fact bone tissue may be structurally stronger after a break.
Scars- its types
Abnormal Scars: These types of scars are present in an individual from his or her birth. Among the various scars in the body two types of scars is the result of the body overproducing collagen, which causes the scar to be raised above the surrounding skin.
Types of Abnormal Scars include :
- Hypertrophic Scars : This type of scar takes the form of a red raised lump on the skin, but do not grow behind the boundaries of the original wound and they often improve in appearance after a few years.
- Keloid Scars : Keloid Scars are a more serious form of scarring as they can carry on indefinitely growing into a large tumourous growth. Keloid scars can also develop from body piercings. In certain cases in some people keloid scars are formed spontaneously. Keloid scars can be a cosmetic problem. However they are only inert masses of collagen and therefore completely harmless and non- contagious.
Intentional Scarring: This type of scarring is an observed within some cultural and sub cultural sections. The permanence of scarring has led to its intentional use as a form of body art. This form of ritual scarring can be found in many groups and culture around the world.
Treatments of Scars
No scar can be permanently treated and any treatment will always leave a trace. In some cases a number of approaches have been tried with the use of silicon get sheeting and steroid injections.having the most widely accepted role in general scar treatment.
Following are some of the techniques of Scar Treatment :
- Topical Treatments : This treatment refers to the tropical treatment of keloids, hypertrophic scars and burn scars by the use of a selected protein kinase c inhibitor and an effective penetrating agent selected from lectithin prganogel or poloxamer 407 leicithin orgagonel.
- Pressure Garments : This treatment is used under the supervision of a medical professional. This technique is mostly used for burn scars that cover a large area, this treatment is mostly effective on recent scars.
- Steroid Injections : This treatment involves a long term course of steroid injections under medical supervision. During the course the scar may flatten and soften in its appearance.
- Dermabrasion : It involves the removal of the surface skin with special equipments and usually involves a general anaesthetic. This treatment is useful with raised scars but is less effective when the scar is sunken below its surrounding skin.
- Collagen Injections : Collagen Injections are used to raise sunken scars to the level of its surrounding skin. The effects of this treatment are however temporary and needs to be regularly repeated. An allergic reaction may accompany to some people from this treatment.
- Laser Surgery & Resurfacing : This is a highly experimental method which has not yet been proven.
- Surgery: Scars which result from factors like acne can be cut out and stitched up through a process called scar revision.
- Radiotherapy : Radiotherapy is used to prevent re- occurrence of severe keloid and hepertrophic scarring. It is usually effective but only used in extreme cases due to the risk of long- term side effects.
