How do you soften hard scar tissue?

Author: Lavon Champlin  |  Last update: Sunday, August 3, 2025

Massaging the scar with Vitamin E Oil, Mederma™, or other lotions can help soften the scar. For some scars that are tending to thicken, your doctor may suggest an injection of a medication such as Kenalog™ into the scar.

How do you break down hardened scar tissue?

There are many types of therapies for scar tissue, but the standard treatment commonly involves exercise and massage — specifically, stretching and pulling the scar tissue to soften, align and elongate it.

What is the best thing to soften scar tissue?

Do
  • massage your scar with a water-based cream (such as aqueous cream or E45 cream) a few times a day for up to 10 minutes each time – only massage your scar if the wound is fully healed.
  • try to keep your scar covered when you're in the sun for at least 1 year – wear clothing that covers it, or put a dressing over it.

Does hardened scar tissue go away?

Not exactly. While some scar tissue will never go away, oftentimes, if treated properly, the injured tissue can be remolded to resemble normal, healthy tissue.

Can you break up hard scar tissue?

Physical therapy can help break up scar tissue that has formed around a joint. Learning flexibility exercises and stretches can help to reduce stiffness and relieve some of the discomforts that scarring can bring.

Get Rid of Scar Tissue - Ask Doctor Jo

When is it too late to massage scar tissue?

For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.

How do you dissolve deep scar tissue?

The following are some of the more common scar-minimizing procedures:
  1. Dermabrasion. ...
  2. Chemical peels. ...
  3. Collagen injections. ...
  4. Cortisone injections. ...
  5. Cryosurgery. ...
  6. Laser resurfacing. ...
  7. Punch grafts. ...
  8. Surgical scar revision.

What is it called when scar tissue hardens?

A keloid scar is a thick raised scar. It can occur wherever you have a skin injury but usually forms on earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or the chest. If you're prone to developing keloids, you might get them in more than one place.

Why is my scar rock hard?

Check if you have a keloid scar

A keloid scar usually appears a few weeks to years after you damage or injure your skin, such as after a cut, burn or acne. Keloid scars are usually raised, hard, smooth and shiny.

Does Vaseline soften scar tissue?

Use Vaseline® Jelly for Scars

By sealing in moisture it also helps to reduce dryness of scarred skin, once your skin has healed. This may help to improve the appearance of scars, making the skin look smoother and softer, as well as help to reduce itchiness caused by dryness.

How do you loosen old scar tissue?

Massaging the scar with Vitamin E Oil, Mederma™, or other lotions can help soften the scar. For some scars that are tending to thicken, your doctor may suggest an injection of a medication such as Kenalog™ into the scar.

How long does scar tissue stay hard?

Scar Process

It will take six to 18 months for the scar to have its final appearance. Your scar should gradually soften and fade over these six to 18 months, but will look pink initially (photo B). Some scars never fade. If your scar stays pink after 12 to 18 months please call to discuss options.

How do you break up calcified scar tissue?

A deep tissue massage breaks down adhesions and collagen fibres that can be caused as a result of scar tissue. Adhesions restrict movement and increase pain resulting in an increase in stress. Breaking down scar tissue through deep tissue massage relieves restriction to decrease pain and reduce stress.

Is heat good for scar tissue?

Heat can reduce pain and improve elasticity of collagen fibers making scar tissue easier to mobilize. Paraffin combines the element of heat and skin lubrication, which are both useful for mobilization. Hot packs: The use of a heat pack on the scarred area can help increase the overall blood flow.

Can you massage scar tissue too much?

Scars generally only reach about 70 to 80% of skins normal strength and therefore can easily be injured. During your scar massage, keep an eye out for blistering, open areas, or a rash. You may be applying too much pressure or being too rough. If this happens, stop massaging in this area and allow it to heal.

Do cortisone shots break up scar tissue?

Cortisone injections.

A steroid is injected directly into the scar. This can help soften and then shrink hard scars. Keloids and hypertrophic scars often soften after this treatment.

Does fasting break down scar tissue?

Our study provided the first evidence that two times of 24-h fasting in a week before or after wound injury was sufficient to induce faster wound closure, enhance re-epithelialization and dermal regeneration, and reduce scar formation in mice with diabetic or burn wounds.

What is the injection to dissolve internal scar tissue?

Dermatologists may inject a corticosteroid solution directly into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, which may help reduce its size. Steroids break the bonds between collagen fibers, which reduces the amount of scar tissue beneath the skin.

What breaks up internal scar tissue?

Physical therapy can be a viable option for scar tissue treatment and associated pain. Physical therapists use a combination of active and passive motion to break down and retrain scar tissue. Active motion refers to a patient moving the affected area under his or her own power.

How do you get rid of thick scar tissue?

Keloid scar treatment and scar tissue removal
  1. Steroid injections. Steroids are injected directly into the keloid scar tissue to help decrease the itching, redness, and burning sensations that these scars may produce. ...
  2. Cryotherapy. ...
  3. Pressure therapy. ...
  4. Surgery. ...
  5. Another option for keloid scar treatment is laser surgery.

What vitamin is good for scars?

Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.

Does vaseline help scars?

One tip for taking care of scars is to use a topical ointment. Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible. Another tip for caring for your scars includes surgery.

Previous article
Does hair grow faster when it's dirty?
Next article
Does clarifying shampoo remove protein?