What is it?

During the healing process of a wound, your body generates a layer of collagen to seal the open space. The skin around the wound then expands over the collagen until the ends connect in the middle, resulting in a scar. Our medical practice, located in Lake Forest, Glenview, and Chicago, Illinois, provides treatment for a range of scars such as hypertrophic, atrophic, keloid, and contracture scars.

Hypertrophic scars are elevated from your skin, formed by an overproduction of collagen. The elevated portion remains within the confines of the original injury. These scars may appear red and somewhat thickened. Over time as the scar matures, hypertrophic scars may become less pronounced.

Atrophic scars, on the other hand, are indented rather than raised from the skin. These scars occur when the skin is incapable of regenerating tissue. Acne is the most prevalent cause of an atrophic scar.

A keloid is a bulky scar that continues to grow and become more noticeable than the original scar or wound. Keloid scars can arise after an injury or skin damage such as a cut, burn, body piercing, or even surgery. This enlarged, thicker scar develops when the body overproduces collagen - a protein found throughout the body. Darker skin pigmentation is more susceptible to this type of scar. Unlike other scars, keloid scars do not fade on their own over time.

Contracture scars are formed when you sustain damage to a large area of skin, like a burn. As they mature, contracture scars tighten, restricting your mobility.

Before deciding on a suitable treatment, our team at The Skin Care Center will assess your scar to identify its type, determine how long you've had it, and ensure there are no indications of other issues like skin cancer.

How is it treated?

Typically, a visual skin exam allows for the identification of most scars. Occasionally, our team encounters conditions that initially appear to be a certain type of scar. In order to correctly identify your scar, we might conduct a skin biopsy for microscopic assessment in our laboratory. Once identified, we can manage scars utilizing surgical scar correction, steroid injections or creams, silicone coverings or gels, laser treatment, and cryotherapy. Book an appointment with one of our experienced providers in Lake Forest, Glenview, or Chicago, Illinois to obtain an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.