Because of the chaotic ways that the fibers are forming and the cross-tension pulls that scar tissue causes, it is not as strong as normal tissue and is more likely to tear and cause a problem.
Since it is more fragile than normal skin tissue, scar tissue is more susceptible to damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Other characteristics are that sweat glands and hair follicles do not grow back after the wound heals.
Scar tissue can have a local area of pain when touched or stretched or it can produce a referred pain that feel like that of a nerve which is a constant annoying burn that occasionally turns sharp.
Excessive pulling or tension across a healing wound is increasingly implicated as a factor which may increase inflammation and scar formation. An environmental factor that clearly has an effect on the appearance on skin scarring is sunlight exposure.
In time, some collagen breaks down at the site of the wound and the blood supply reduces. The scar gradually becomes smoother and softer. Although scars are permanent, they can fade over a period of up to 2 years. It's unlikely they'll fade any more after this time.
Excess scar tissue, layers deep, can significantly reduce function and movement months after surgery. And on the skin's surface, visible, lingering scars might be noticeable enough to really bother patients. Before you undergo surgery, here's what to know about reducing scarring as you heal.
After a surgical procedure, an excess of scar tissue is formed by the body at the site of the procedure and could make a popping noise as it breaks up in the weeks and months to follow.
However, if excess collagen is produced then scar tissue can begin to build up around the site of the injury. It is not as supple or flexible as the original tissue. If it is allowed to build up without treatment, it can begin to irritate and inflame the surrounding area.
In older subjects, the scars do not resolve or fade, and scar tissue can build up. In organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys or liver, the buildup of scar tissue can interfere with normal function, with potentially devastating results.
It is not uncommon for a surgical scar to hurt after an incision is healed. Scar tissue forms after surgery to heal a wound and can form internally or externally. This scar tissue can often cause pain due to a variety of reasons including an injury to the nerve.
Symptoms of scar tissue pain can include some of the following: Itching and burning sensation near the scar. Tenderness and sensitivity in the region around the scar. Inflammation or swelling near the injury.
Can scar tissue cause pain? Scar tissue may cause pain in several ways. Sometimes, the pain is due to skin tightness, which may make it more difficult to move freely. In other cases, scar tissue pain occurs due to nerve damage resulting from the original injury.
Hypertrophic scars that result from burn wounds are more difficult to treat. Superficial burn wounds usually heal without forming hypertrophic scars. Deep burn wounds are harder to treat. Many dermatologic and plastic surgeons treat these by removing the burned area and then using a skin graft.
The function of muscle, tendons, and ligaments is to transmit tensile forces. Healing by scar tissue compromises this function because scar tissue is weaker and more elastic than the tissue it replaces.
Because scar tissue is very fibrous and thick, the constant stretch of the skin over knees and elbows can make it very hard for injuries to heal properly. Leg skin tends to be tougher than skin anywhere else on your body.
Proteolytic enzymes break down scar tissue, thereby increasing tissue motility. Breaking down the scar tissue also gives the body an opportunity to replace it with the original type of tissue that was damaged for more complete healing. The body makes its own digestive enzymes called pancreatin.
Though scar tissue may take up to 2 years to mature, prevention is much better than cure. This can be very hard work over a long period of time, but may mean avoiding further surgery in the future.
Most scars fade over time and don't cause long-term health problems. How a scar changes depends on its location, size and type. A scar may fade so much that you can barely see it, but it never completely goes away. Some scars cause problems months or years later.
In some instances, a surgeon may recommend removing a large hypertrophic scar or keloid. Keloids that far exceed the margins of the original wound, for example, require removal to allow surgeons to reconstruct the surrounding skin and tissue and restore as much of the underlying structure as possible.
The scar tissue carcinoma is a rare disease which arises from the floor of unstable scars, chronic fistulae, ulcera and radiation injuries.
After having an injury or surgery, you may be wondering how long it will take for your scar to heal completely. Well, a scar can heal within 12 to 18 weeks in most cases. However, how long your specific scar will take to heal depends on various factors, including size, depth, type of scar, and proper wound care.
It is recommended to perform scar massage on a daily basis to have the greatest affect on scar development, pain reduction, and scar mobility.
“The gentle pressure can decrease any tight muscle tissue or soften scar-like tissue, called adhesions. This helps to elongate the muscle fibers.” Stretching and massage therapy can do this, too — but with a massage gun, you can do it on your own, from the comfort of your couch.