Thick or Hypertrophic Scar
How does a hypertrophic scar form?
A scar that becomes thick is often called “scar hypertrophy.” This happens when too much collagen is produced during the healing process of a wound that doesn’t heal in the usual way.
About hypertrophic scars
In the first few months, an immature scar may feel thicker than the normal skin around it, but it usually flattens out over time. Burn scars often stay somewhat thicker, but sometimes scars can actually become thinner than the surrounding skin (this is called atrophy). Doctors usually judge how thick a scar is by seeing how much it sticks out above the healthy surrounding skin. However, this doesn’t show how deep the scar goes. Sometimes they use a special type of ultrasound to look at both the upper and deeper layers of the scar.
Hypertrophic vs. keloid scar
Both keloid and hypertrophic scars are thickened scars, but there are important differences. Hypertrophic, or thick, scars stay within the original wound area and often get flatter and less noticeable over time. Keloid scars, on the other hand, grow beyond the edges of the wound and can keep growing even after the skin has healed. Keloids are usually harder, larger, and can be itchy or painful. Both types are caused by an overproduction of collagen during healing, but keloids have a genetic link and are more common in people with darker skin. In contrast to thick scars, there are also atrophic scars, which are thinner than the surrounding skin, such as acne scars.
