Scars Treatment Guide

Scar tissue is weaker, rigid and much more sensitive to pain than normal and healthy skin tissue.  Thus, most scars experience chronic pain years after the initial injury.  In addition, the surrounding area of the scars can also experience the following discomforts:

• Nerve impingement
• Numbness
• Limited range of motion
• Loss of or limited flexibility
• Misalignment in posture
• Muscle atrophy
• Tissue hypoxia
• Increase in potential for future injury

Scar Traits

Scar formation varies from individual to individual.  However, they share some distinguishing attributes:

• They eventually harden and become rigid
• The skin tightens and limits the range of motion or causes deformity around the area
• The scar becomes dry and can easily open the wound if not managed properly. This is especially a problem for skin grafts since they do not produce oil or sweat

Scar Healing

A scar healing process consists of two stages:

• Immature – at this stage, the scar has just formed immediately after the wound heals.  The scar can still be painful, itchy and sensitive tissue.  It is typically reddish.
• Mature – the scar has completely healed the wound.  This happens after 3 to 18 months depending on the severity and depth of the wound.  The reddish color has faded.

At the immature stage, exercise, massage and heat application will have the greatest positive effect in reducing scar tissue.  While at the mature stage, a more vigorous approach is necessary to reduce scar tissue.

Massaging Scar Tissue

An effective and frequently used massage technique for reducing scar tissue is by using cross-fiber friction.  This technique is used by massage therapists to reduce the roughness of the tissue and soften any adhesions.  Pressure is applied with the tips of the fingers on the scar with a cross motion without sliding over the skin.

This massaging technique is easy to do and can be done by following these steps:

• Brace finger or thumb and apply a small amount of pressure to the scar
• Stroke the area with a circular or side-by-side motion without sliding over the scar
• As the area warms up and is more relaxed, you can go a little deeper

In general, by consistently massaging the scar tissue, the less possibility of developing long term discomforts.

Massage should not be performed over the area when the injury is still fresh, wait until the wound is fully knitted.  It is important that the initial approach is gentle to prevent from severing the injury.

Massaging over scar tissue can cause pain and should always work within the individual’s pain tolerance.  In time, the discomfort will ease up as excess scar tissue goes away and remaining scar tissue realigns.  Warming up the area will loosen up the tissue and lessen the pain.

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