Scars that itch
If you have a burn or a scar, your skin might start to itch while it’s healing. Almost everyone recovering from serious burns experiences itching, especially on or around the scar, or on the area where skin was taken to cover the wound.
Causes of an itchy scar
Itching is a normal part of healing. The reasons behind it are complicated and not fully understood yet. How bad the itching is, and how often it happens, doesn’t necessarily depend on how big or deep your burn or scar is.
Itching can make you want to scratch, but scratching can reopen healed skin and cause new wounds, which can lead to extra scarring.
Other symptoms
Itching can also affect your daily life, such as:
- Sleeping: Itching often gets worse at night, making it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep.
- Work and school: Constant itching can make it difficult to focus.
- Physical activities: Moving, exercising, and playing (especially for kids) can make the itching worse.
- Anxiety: Itching can make you feel anxious, which can, in turn, make the itching feel worse.
Luckily, itching usually gets better over time. In the meantime, there are treatments available to help reduce it.
