Scar therapy

Abstract

Scars are the permanent sign of deeper injuries of the dermis, and occur during the course of wound healing. Depending on the individual disposition, localization, cause, and course of healing, hypertrophic scars and keloids may occur as a result of pathologically altered wound healing with consecutive increased formation of scar tissue. Persistent inflammation in the deeper skin layers, on the other hand, may be responsible for the development of atrophic scars. Hypertrophic scars and keloids in particular are frequently associated with itching, pain and functional restrictions; thus, treatment is usually medically indicated. The current spectrum of established procedures for the treatment of excessive scars has recently been extended by the use of 5-fluorouracil and various laser procedures. Fractionated laser applications lead to convincing results in the treatment of atrophic scars. Every year, an estimated 100 million people worldwide acquire scars due to injuries, burns, surgery, persistent inflammation of deeper skin layers, or tattoos.