Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesAppearanceTreatmentHow Long Does It Last?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Appearance
Treatment
How Long Does It Last?
Hypertrophic scars result from an abnormalinflammatory response(the immune system’s reaction) to an injury, causing excess scar tissue growth. A skin injury through thedermal (inner) layeror deeper sets the body’s natural inflammatory response in motion to heal the injured skin. The result of this healing process is a scar.
In some people, the inflammatory response causes excess fibrinogen (a protein that helps with blood clotting) andcollagen(a protein that supports your skin).When this occurs, the scar can overgrow, which is known as hypertrophic scarring.
This article discusses what hypertrophic scars are, what causes them, and treatment options for scars that do not resolve independently.
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What Causes a Hypertrophic Scar?
Scarring is your body’s response to skin wounds penetrating the skin’s dermal layer or deeper. Although poorly understood, hypertrophic scars are considered an abnormal inflammatory response to a skin injury.
Hypertrophic scars begin developing within weeks after an injury.They appear raised above the skin and usually flatten over time.They typically form on the chest, upper back, or shoulder area but can occur anywhere.
During the healing process, excessive collagen and fibrinogen cause the scar to overgrow within the boundary of the original injury, causing a hypertrophic scar. Injuries to the skin that go deeper than the dermal layer and can cause hypertrophic scarring include:
Although not as complex or challenging to treat askeloidscars (abnormal scars that grow outside the original injury site), hypertrophic scars have some distinct characteristics. They may:
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Hypertrophic Scar Treatment
Hypertrophic scars typically resolve on their own within several weeks to months.However, depending on their location, they may cause discomfort or inhibit free movement and, thus, require treatment.
There are various methods to treat a hypertrophic scar. Working with a healthcare provider, such as adermatologistor plastic surgeon trained in these treatment modalities, is important to ensure an optimal outcome.
First-Line Treatments
The most common first-line treatment options include:
Second-Line Treatment
If none of the first-line treatment options are successful in eliminating a hypertrophic scar, a healthcare provider might recommend a second-line treatment option, such as:
For optimal results, your healthcare provider may recommend surgical excision combined with intralesional corticosteroid injections and other first-line treatment options to prevent continued scarring during the postsurgical healing process. This combined treatment method is expensive and extends the overall healing time.
How Long Does Hypertrophic Scarring Last?
Hypertrophic scars begin forming between one week and a month after a skin injury and may take over a year to heal. The time it takes for your hypertrophic scar to recover depends on the following factors:
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Summary
Scarring after a skin injury is part of the body’s healing process. A hypertrophic scar occurs when excess collagen and fibrinogen build up at the injury site during healing. The resulting hypertrophic scar can be raised, red, uncomfortable, and potentially limit movement. Though they generally flatten out and resolve within weeks to months, hypertrophic scars that cause pain or limit movement can benefit from treatment.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Hypertrophic scarring keloids.American Academy of Family Physicians.Management of keloids and hypertrophic scars.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.American Academy of Dermatology.Scars: diagnosis and treatment.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Scar revision.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Keloids and hypertrophic scars.Jimenez LM, Oliver MA, Keyloun JW, et al.Laser Treatment of hypertrophic scar in a porcine model induces change to epidermal histoarchitecture that correlate to improved epidermal barrier function.J Burn Care Res. 2023;irad010. doi:10.1093/jbcr/irad010Mokos ZB, Jović A, Grgurević L, et al.Current therapeutic approach to hypertrophic scars.Front Med. 2017;4.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Hypertrophic scarring keloids.American Academy of Family Physicians.Management of keloids and hypertrophic scars.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.American Academy of Dermatology.Scars: diagnosis and treatment.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Scar revision.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Keloids and hypertrophic scars.Jimenez LM, Oliver MA, Keyloun JW, et al.Laser Treatment of hypertrophic scar in a porcine model induces change to epidermal histoarchitecture that correlate to improved epidermal barrier function.J Burn Care Res. 2023;irad010. doi:10.1093/jbcr/irad010Mokos ZB, Jović A, Grgurević L, et al.Current therapeutic approach to hypertrophic scars.Front Med. 2017;4.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine.Hypertrophic scarring keloids.American Academy of Family Physicians.Management of keloids and hypertrophic scars.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.American Academy of Dermatology.Scars: diagnosis and treatment.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Scar revision.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Keloids and hypertrophic scars.Jimenez LM, Oliver MA, Keyloun JW, et al.Laser Treatment of hypertrophic scar in a porcine model induces change to epidermal histoarchitecture that correlate to improved epidermal barrier function.J Burn Care Res. 2023;irad010. doi:10.1093/jbcr/irad010Mokos ZB, Jović A, Grgurević L, et al.Current therapeutic approach to hypertrophic scars.Front Med. 2017;4.
National Library of Medicine.Hypertrophic scarring keloids.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Management of keloids and hypertrophic scars.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.
American Academy of Dermatology.Scars: diagnosis and treatment.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Scar revision.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Keloids and hypertrophic scars.
Jimenez LM, Oliver MA, Keyloun JW, et al.Laser Treatment of hypertrophic scar in a porcine model induces change to epidermal histoarchitecture that correlate to improved epidermal barrier function.J Burn Care Res. 2023;irad010. doi:10.1093/jbcr/irad010
Mokos ZB, Jović A, Grgurević L, et al.Current therapeutic approach to hypertrophic scars.Front Med. 2017;4.
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