Scars - Treatment 

Treating scars 

Scars only need to be treated in the rare situation when they are painful or if a person is uncomfortable about how their scar looks.

Although scars cannot be removed completely, they can often be made less visible. Your GP may refer you to a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon for treatment. Some of the treatment options are outlined below.

Corticosteroid injections

Corticosteroid injections are used to prevent and treat some keloid and hypertrophic scars.

Corticosteroids are injected into the scar to reduce any inflammation (swelling) and to flatten the scar. Depending on the type of scar, the corticosteroid injection may need to be repeated. Two or three injections are usually given a month apart, although this type of treatment may continue for six months or possibly longer, depending on how the scar reacts to the injections.  

A local anaesthetic may be combined with the corticosteroid to reduce any pain and discomfort.

Silicon gel sheets

Silicon gel sheets are available from some pharmacies. They are used on healing skin (not open wounds) and can help to treat and prevent hypertrophic and keloid scars.

To be effective, silicon gel sheets should be worn over the scar 12 to 24 hours a day, for two to three months. Most sheets can be reused until they dissolve. Both the scar and the silicone sheet should be washed with mild soap and water each day.

Silicone is also available as an ointment, which can be applied to your skin to help treat scars.

You can ask your GP, dermatologist or pharmacist for further advice about using silicone gel sheets.

Surgery

Sometimes, surgery can improve the appearance of scars. Surgery can be used to:

  • change the positioning of the scar
  • change the shape of the scar
  • release a tight scar that is close to a joint in order to improve movement

Be aware that having surgery on your scar will leave a new scar that will take up to two years to heal. There is also an increased risk of further keloid and hypertrophic scarring following surgery. After surgery, the recurrence rate for keloid scarring is 50-80%.

Pressure dressings

The aim of pressure dressings is to make scars less visible, and to flatten and soften them.

Pressure dressings are usually made from a stretchy, elastic material. They are worn over the scar 24 hours a day, for around 6 to12 months. They can also be used in combination with silicone gel sheeting to improve the appearance of scars over a long period of time.

Other treatments

A number of other treatment methods can help to reduce the appearance of scars. These include:

  • medication
  • make-up

These are briefly discussed below.

Medication

Dermatologists may prescribe medication, such as potassium aminobenzoate, to help break down scar tissue. Medication is often used to treat conditions such as scleroderma, which can cause extensive scarring and hardening of the skin.

Make-up

Make-up can help cover up scars and can be particularly useful for facial scars. Camouflage make-up that is specially designed for covering up scars is available over the counter at pharmacies.

Last reviewed: 29/10/2010

Next review due: 29/10/2012

Ratings

How helpful is this page?

Average rating

Based on 28 ratings

All ratings

Add your rating

Comments

7 Comments

Our rules

Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

ias said on 21 October 2011

Lou53, I read your comments, and agree that so much ignorance exists out there about skin products suitable for different skin types and laser treatment. There is so much positive opportunities with skin treatments, I am both perplxed and stressed at the fact that many times it is NHS related people who lack the correct advice or support.

Given that Acne is a skin problem that can affect ones self-esteem and confidence, as well as the decisions one makes in their lives, it is therefore important to get the right advice.

Personally, I have found that the Private Sector is so much more experienced in this area of skin treatment - for all skin types. It is unfortunate that I am not allowed by the rules to mention names, but one need to do their homework - far beyond the NHS in some cases.

Yes, having to pay for this treatment out of pocket can be expensive. However, it is always a positive step knowing that possibilities and answers exist for the chnges that one need to overcome the barriers in life.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

lou53 said on 11 October 2011

My 19 year old daughter had bad acne on her forehead when she was 15. The doctors insisted Roaccutane was a good idea despite my protests. I cannot begin to tell you the nightmare she went through with her skin from then on. The acne soon covered her whole face and pustules were so bad people asked her in the street if she had been in a fire. The doctors insisted she carried on with the treatment until finally they agreed to take her off it as it was clearly making things worse, not better. She now has severe scarring and we have tried everything there is, but nothing has helped. Going back to the doctor to ask for scar treatment on the nhs, he was AGHAST! like how dare we. I told him in no uncertain terms it was due to doctors putting her on this roaccutne in the first place that caused her all this misery. All her teenage years. He said we cant afford this sort of cosmetic treatment on the nhs! I am so angry, but there is nothing we can do. Maybe we should change doctors.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

ias said on 29 September 2011

I have made a few comments on this website that I feel are necessary in order to inform others.

I do hope that NHS Choices are reading my comments, as I strongly believe that my contributions should be taken seriously and improvements made to this website to ensure that the anxieties of your readers are not further deepened by the lack of information on this website. Ignorance must not become the benchmark!

My own frustrations about the NHS, and its relationship with Scar Treatments, was deepened further yesterday.

In my aim to find a NHS Surgeon who is skilled in using a C02 Laser, and on dark skin types to treat a scar, I was informed that a C02 laser was recently bought and shared by two Hospitals in London, but it is not known whether the NHS has a surgeon skilled in using this laser - especially on dark skin patients. I am awaiting the outcome of these enquiries.

I am perplexed given that the NHS own existence is due to the taxable income of our diverse communities - all skin types, that when one is of darker skin type and seeking a skin treatment, the NHS ignorance and underdevelopment begins to show.

For me, and I am sure others too, this is a failing that I never knew existed within the NHS. It almost seems that if you are of darker skin type and in need on skin-related laser surgery, it becomes such a long-winded and exhausting wait to see whether the NHS can find a surgeon skilled at treating dark skin types.

This is shameful!

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

abibr said on 11 September 2011

I'm afraid I have to concur with these comments. I found the NHS and GPs very uninformed and unsympathetic about the facial scarring I suffered 10 years ago as the result of a car accident. I had 80 stitches across my face, my eyelids were ripped to pieces, the skin under my right eye torn, my nose sliced open and my forehead cracked right across. I had 3 operations to repair and correct the damage. The focus was consistently upon the physical effects - the functioning of my eyes. Of course this is the priority, but I was 27 years old and was left feeling devastated, ugly, isolated and with no self-esteem. My relationship ended and I have been single ever since despite countless dates and attempts to get 'back to normal'. I'm told the scarring is now barely noticeable, but the psychological effects will never go. A proactive attempt by my doctor to understand, offer emotional support and counselling would have been helpful. Doctors need more training in this area and this website could acknowledge the psychological trauma more effectively and offer ideas for support, at the very least.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

L0R3N said on 22 July 2011

I just had to double check the date on my computer to ensure that it is in fact 2011, and not the 1950's. This is the official NHS treatment guide to scarring?! Bewilderingly unhelpful. The psychological damage caused by scarring, particularly on the face, can ruin people's entire lives, and yet many of the types of scarring and their solutions fall under the 'cosmetic' category. I'm sorry, but this is appalling.
Speaking from personal experience, I suffer with a food allergy (milk), which was never diagnosed, investigated or even mentioned as a possible cause, despite numerous visits to both doctors and dermatologists. The skin inflammations caused by this allergy have left me with deeply pitted scarring on my face. Since eliminating milk from my diet seven months ago I've only broken out on the odd occasion where I have slipped up and consumed milk unknowingly. After years of antibiotics, antidepressants, feeling suicidal, lesions upon lesions, scars upon scars and spending thousands on various treatments, it was as simple as just not eating milk. And now I have to bear these scars until I have a couple of thousand pounds saved up in order to afford private scar revision treatments. That would all be well and good, if functioning normally to earn that kind of disposable income came easily to someone who feels like the elephant man. The shame and embarrassment of having a face full of scars makes it torturous to be around other people a lot of the time. My confidence and self-esteem are shot to pieces. I expect people to dislike me based solely on my prematurely weathered, pock-marked skin. The turmoil caused to my family and all my interpersonal relationships is immeasurable, and when you look to the National Health Service for help and advice you're advised to what? Slap some make-up on and get over yourself?
Wouldn't want to be chipping away at the income of all the cosmetic practitioners by offering effective acne scar treatments though, would we?

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

DaniAllen said on 11 January 2011

I agree with ias. Also some parts of the article are very discouraging. Affirmations like: having surgery on your scar will leave a new scar... Mmmm, yes, of course, but only if they hire a butcher instead a experient surgeon... (cuts, cuts and more cuts).

They should have a database of before and after pictures of various cases to help people decide whether the surgery is worth... I know each case is different, but people would get a more realistic idea.

I've seen amazing results in many laser treatments.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

ias said on 11 December 2010

I am deeply surprised that there is No mention of Laser Scar Revision from the NHS. You don't even mention the vast improvements and successes of laser treatments - now available to treat dark skin types too. Shocking!

Camouflage make-up, while successful in its aim, only covers-up the scar and the phycological challenges one may face. It does nothing to deal with reducing or improving the presentation of the scar for the patient.

So much ignorance still remains about skin toning and laser treatment for dark skin types. As someone of dark skin, I am struggling to find NHS products that can help me to tone my skin prior to laser treatment. Though it is available on the privatised market, it is also expensive. Why does the NHS seem so far behind with its treatments? Very frustrating for someone who who seeks support in skin toning. Obagi range of products are very good - the benefits are clear! But teh NHS does not seemt to use toning products that can help to tone dark patches with light. Why is this? If you do, please provide this information on this site.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

Support groups

Scarring can affect a person both physically and psychologically. There are a number of support groups and organisations that provide help and advice to people who are living with scarring. Support organisations include:

 

  • Link to Directgov – public services all in one place
  • The Information Standard - Certified member