Skin wounds, either due to trauma, infection, burns or surgery, will form scars. Some wounds, if properly repaired, will form a fine scar with minimal aesthetic and functional problems. On the other hand, formation of some other scar is excessive and give rise to aesthetic and functional problems to the patients. Examples are formation of hypertrophic scars or keloids. Some patients are prone to formation of these excessive scar compared due to their skin type.
While formation of scar occurs after injury to the skin, the size of the scar and its deleterious effects can be minimized. Proper surgical technique that reduces wound tension and with accurate wound edges approximation provides optimal wound healing environment and minimal scarring. Excessive scarring can also be prevented by regular massage of the scar and application of silicon sheet or scar gel. Hypertrophic scars or keloids that have already formed can usually be managed by injection of triamcinolone. Surgical interventional is available for other scars that cannot be effectively treated by methods mentioned earlier.
