What do I do if a raised or discoloured scar develops?

Abnormal scars may be raised, hard and discoloured, or thin and soft. They are common after skin procedures, but can usually be treated to improve their appearance and associated discomfort.

All skin procedures leave scars. Treatment of skin cancers, moles and other lesions is more likely to cause an unsightly scar than many other surgical procedures. This may be because:

• The skin edges have to be pulled together, and healing occurs under tension (i.e. the skin is constantly stretching as it heals).
• The procedure damaged the skin in some way, e.g. shaving, burning or freezing.

Procedures that cause minimal or only superficial skin damage, such as laser, radiofrequency surgery and photodynamic therapy, tend to cause less scarring. Scars are not only unsightly – they are often itchy or uncomfortable.

What does an abnormal scar look like?

An overgrown or hypertrophic scar is usually raised and firm in consistency and may be red, pink, white or brown in colour. A keloid scar is even more overgrown, extending far beyond the edges of the originally injured skin.

Signs of hypertrophic scarring usually develop within the first 6-8 weeks after a skin procedure.

What can I do if a scar develops?

Scars aren’t dangerous and don’t need to be treated unless they are causing discomfort or their appearance is unwanted. If you act soon after a scar starts to develop, you might be able to stop further development. Things you can do include:

• Cover the scar with a silicone film or surgical tape
• Apply silicone gel three times daily
• Massage daily with Bio-Oil

Scar treatments

At Spot Check Clinic, we provide medical treatments for scars if silicone gel, films and daily massage are ineffective. Treatments include:

• Injections into the scar
• Cryotherapy
• Fractional laser
• Microneedling

These treatments are most effective if commenced within the first few months of a scar starting to develop. In many cases, there’s an improvement in the scar’s height after just one treatment, but usually, a course of 4 or more treatments is required to get the best result.

If you are concerned that you are developing a scar due to a treatment performed at Spot Check Clinic, please contact us for a complimentary assessment. In many cases, we can offer complimentary scar reduction treatments.