Atrophic scars are the opposite of hypertrophic scars. They are depressed, sunken and often have a pitted appearance. Atrophic scars happen when the body does not make enough collagen while healing, which causes the loss of tissue.
While some scars may undergo some level of fading, atrophic scars are particularly stubborn and don't resolve over time. Atrophic scar treatment helps fill in the indentation and fade the appearance of your previous wound for a smooth, balanced appearance.
Types of Atrophic Scars
The three main types include: Ice Pick Scars: Deep, narrow scars that resemble small punctures in the skin. Boxcar Scars: Wider depressions with sharp edges, often caused by acne or chickenpox. Rolling Scars: Shallow scars with a wavy appearance due to tissue damage under the skin.
Atrophic scars are the opposite of hypertrophic scars. They are depressed, sunken and often have a pitted appearance. Atrophic scars happen when the body does not make enough collagen while healing, which causes the loss of tissue.
When a scar first develops on lighter skin, it's usually pink or red. Over time, the pinkish color fades, and the scar becomes slightly darker or lighter than the color of the skin. In people with dark skin, scars often appear as dark spots. Sometimes scars itch, and they may be painful or tender.
Depressed scar
Sunken scars can become more noticeable as you age. This happens when the skin relaxes and sags, causing the depressions to become more noticeable. You're more likely to develop depressed scars after chickenpox or severe acne clears.
Hypertrophic scars are usually: Pink to red. Slightly raised or flat.
Atrophic Scars: These are indented scars that form when underlying structures supporting the skin, such as fat or muscle, are lost. They are common in conditions like acne or chickenpox. While silicone strips may not be able to fill the indentation, they can help to improve the texture and colour of atrophic scars.
They are , typically 1.5-4 mm wide and may be shallow (< 0.5mm) or deep (> 0.5mm). Rolling scars, which account for 15-25% of atrophic acne scars, have an undulating appearance with a gently sloping border. They are typically wider (usually ≥ 4-5 mm) than they are deep.
Moisturize Atrophic Scars
This will help to keep your skin hydrated making it appear less dry and rough around the scar. Try using a non-comedogenic moisturizer, like Vaseline® Jelly – it won't clog your pores and is appropriate for use on sensitive areas, like the face.
Fibroblasts, which form during scar tissue growth, are responsible for fibrosis. If the fibroblasts do not clear over time, they cause prolonged inflammation. Other symptoms associated with scar tissue include itching, swelling, and tenderness or sensitivity.
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.
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.
Atrophic scarring is often an unfortunate and permanent complication of acne vulgaris. It has high prevalence, significant impact on quality of life, and therapeutic challenge for dermatologists.
Atrophic scars are pitted or indented scars that occur when your skin heals below the normal layer of skin due to a lack of regenerative tissue. Think of a pothole in the road that isn't filled all the way up—that's what the imbalanced skin of an atrophic scar is like.
“Scarring is a natural part of our body's healing process. There are some people that are predisposed to forming thicker scars based on genetics, immune status, medications, and other factors.”
The available treatment modalities for atrophic scarring available in literature are ablative fractional laser therapy (6), non-ablative laser therapy (16), dermabrasion (2), chemical peel therapy (5), surgical techniques such as subcision, autologous fat transfer and injectables (5) and combination therapies (7) ...
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.
That Lump Under Your Surgical Scar May Be An Incisional Hernia. Have you recently noticed a lump or a bulge in the area of a previous surgical scar? Chances are you have what's called an Incisional Hernia. Incisional hernias can occur in up to 50% of surgical incisions.
What Is Abnormal Scarring? When skin is cut or injured, the body heals itself by forming scar tissue. If the body makes too much scar tissue, abnormal scarring results. “Hypertrophic scars” are usually raised, red fibrous lesions, and keloid scars extend beyond the edges of the original cut or wound.
Scar sarcoidosis is characterized by the onset of erythematous swelling and the development of papules and nodules within the original scars. In cases of cutaneous or subcutaneous swelling in the area of an old scar or beside a scar, a scar sarcoidosis is a possible differential diagnosis (1).