What is a scar tissue that keeps growing?

Author: Prof. Wilfrid Lynch MD  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 28, 2025

A keloid scar is when a scar keeps growing and becomes bigger than the original wound. It can happen if you have too much of a substance called collagen in your skin. It can happen after any sort of injury or damage to your skin such as a cut, burn, surgery, acne or a body piercing.

What causes scar tissue to keep growing?

In one subset of human fibrosis cells, scientists discovered a delinquent gang of molecules that continually shouted at an immune receptor — the antennae on the cell — to produce scar tissue instead of quieting down and allowing the scar tissue to go back to sleep.

What is an overgrown scar tissue called?

This is called a hypertrophic scar. Sometimes scar tissue grows over the boundaries of the original wound, creating a puffy, round protrusion called a keloid.

What type of scar tissue grows too much?

Hypertrophic scarring (HTS) is an aberrant form of wound healing that is associated with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and connective tissue at the site of injury.

What causes overgrowth of scar tissue?

Collagen — a protein found throughout the body — is useful to wound healing, but when the body produces too much, keloids can form. Keloid growth might be triggered by any sort of skin injury — an insect bite, acne, an injection, body piercing, burns, hair removal, and even minor scratches and bumps.

What is Scar Tissue?

How do you get rid of overgrown scar tissue?

Treatment may include the following:
  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 disease causes excessive scar tissue?

Overview of Scleroderma

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis (thickening) in the skin and other areas of the body. When an immune response tricks tissues into thinking they are injured, it causes inflammation, and the body makes too much collagen, leading to scleroderma.

What does excessive scar tissue look like?

At the skin level, a thickened, whitened, elevated scar, called a hypertrophic scar, can develop. Keloids occur when collagen buildup creates a larger, puffy-looking scar that grows beyond the boundaries of the surgical wound.

Does internal scar tissue continue to grow?

Scar tissue can be insidious. It will continue to grow, even developing what seem to be tentacles throughout the affected areas. For example, an abdominal scar often attaches itself to neighboring tissues.

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.

Can you get rid of scar tissue without surgery?

The physical therapist can break up scar tissue by applying pressure to the affected area. This pressure leads to an inflammatory response around the affected area, which allows the body to reabsorb unneeded scar tissue and promotes the healing of adhesions.

What is excessive formation of scar tissue called?

A keloid is a raised, red-skin colored plaque of scar tissue that can form on tissues after an injury. Keloids often appear on the upper chest, shoulders, and upper back. A hypertrophic scar is a more common form of scar tissue. People with hypertrophic scars may notice that they fade over time.

Can scar tissue become malignant?

Of malignancies arising in scars, SCCs are reportedly the most common6 and are typically found in chronic ulcerating scar tissue from burns known as Marjolin's ulcers.

When should I be worried about scar tissue?

If scar tissue impairs a person's movement or causes severe pain, they should speak to a doctor to discuss their options.

Can scar tissue increase in size?

Taken together these experiments show that ColV depletion leads to decreased scar stiffness and attenuated tissue scaffold contraction by fibroblasts, which could both contribute to increased scar size.

What does an atrophic scar look like?

Atrophic scars are the opposite of hypertrophic scars. They are depressed, sunken and often have a pitted appearance.

What foods should you avoid with adhesions?

Foods to avoid

White varieties of bread and baked goods such as wraps, crumpets, scones, chapattis (avoid any crusts). Plain cakes made with white flour, e.g. Victoria Sandwich, Madeira. Wholemeal and granary bread and baked produces, fruit scones, teacakes, fruit cakes, cakes containing nuts.

What are the dangers of scar tissue?

While scar tissue is a natural and essential part of the healing process, it can sometimes lead to persistent pain or discomfort, impacting an individual's daily life and well-being. Scar tissue pain may manifest as a variety of sensations, including dull aches, sharp pains, burning sensations, or tingling.

What helps break up internal scar tissue?

Stretching and flexibility exercises are other common ways to help scar tissue repair. It can aid in the lengthening of wounded tissues as well as their general mobility. Your physical therapist is likely to include scar massage and stretches in your rehabilitation regimen if you've had an accident or surgery.

Why is my scar tissue getting bigger?

A keloid scar is when a scar keeps growing and becomes bigger than the original wound. It can happen if you have too much of a substance called collagen in your skin. It can happen after any sort of injury or damage to your skin such as a cut, burn, surgery, acne or a body piercing.

What causes overproduction of scar tissue?

Factors that increase the risk of hypertrophic scarring include: Burn wounds, especially second- and third-degree burns. Systemic (whole body) inflammation. Poor wound healing due to infection.

What is an overgrowth of scar tissue?

Keloids. •Overgrowths of scar tissue that can sometimes appear when an injury heals. •Typically develop on the torso and sometimes on the face or earlobes. •Treatments include steroids, cryotherapy, and surgical excision.

How to stop scar tissue from growing?

Scar Tissue Treatment & Management Tips Post Surgery
  1. Taping the scar area. Taping the scar area after surgery could minimize the risk of the scar growing in size. ...
  2. Use silicone sheets or rolls. ...
  3. Don't smoke. ...
  4. Get enough Sleep. ...
  5. Be mindful of your diet. ...
  6. Limit sun exposure. ...
  7. Bathing. ...
  8. Movement.

What test confirms connective tissue disease?

Diagnosis and Tests

Imaging tests, such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Tests for markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Tests for antibodies, especially for autoimmune conditions.

What were your first signs of scleroderma?

Skin signs of scleroderma may include:
  • Fingers or toes that turn blue or white in response to cold temperatures (Raynaud phenomenon)
  • Stiffness and tightness of skin of fingers, hands, forearm, and face.
  • Hair loss.
  • Skin that is darker or lighter than normal.

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