Keloid scars invade into adjacent normal tissue with increased color, thickness and height. These scars are disfiguring and can lead to a decrease in function, especialy if the joints are involved. The aim of therapy is to soften, flatten, smooth out the scar and normalize the color of the scar. Hypertrophic scars usually occur within the first six to eight weeks after the skin heals from an injury such as a burn or surgical incision. The scar continues to change or remodel over the next one or two years.
Hypertrophic scars are more common when healing is delayed.
The exact cause of this abnormal scarring is unknown. Keloid and Hypertrophic scars continue to be a widespread problem in particular for adult and child survivors of burns and individuals with darkly pigmentened skin. Dermatologists and other cosmetic surgeons have an array of treatment options for improving the clinical appearance of hypertrophic and keloid scars. Recently, silicone gel sheeting has been found to prevent and improve these scars. Silicon gel sheets are thought to work by hydrating the scar tissue.