Keloid and Hypertrophic Acne Scars: Raised Acne Scars & Treatment
Raised Acne Scars
Keloid and Hypertrophic are all different types of raised acne scarring.
The Journal of Molecular Science’s Rei Ogawa notes, “Keloids and hypertrophic scars are caused by cutaneous injury and irritation, which includes acne. Notably, superficial injuries that do not reach the reticular dermis never cause keloidal and hypertrophic scarring. This suggests that these pathological scars are due to injury to this skin layer and the subsequent aberrant wound healing therein. ”
This means that acne scarring that is raised, meaning keloid or hypertrophic scarring, is only caused when the scarring, inflammation and injury was deep enough that it reached the reticular dermis layer. Less severe types of acne scarring will not be raised, these will fall into the other categories of scarring.
Hypertrophic vs Keloid Scars
What is the difference between hypertrophic and keloid scars?
The Journal of Molecular Science explains that clinicians define hypertrophic scars as scars that do not grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound and keloids as scars that spread into the surrounding normal skin.
This means hypertrophic scars are ones that stay within the original wound boundary while keloids expand beyond the original wound healing and turning into a scar.
Chronic inflammation and inflammatory disorders are linked to people who have raised hypertrophic and keloid acne scarring.
Treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars:
The Journal of Molecular Science paper explains how to treat raised scarring including hypertrophic and keloid scars:
Treatments that act by reducing inflammation are the most effective in treating these types of raised scarring. These include corticosteroid injection/tape/ointment, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, compression therapy, stabilization therapy, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy, and surgical methods that reduce skin tension.
- Corticosteroid injection/tape/ointment
- Radiotherapy
- Cryotherapy
- Compression therapy
- Stabilization therapy
- 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy
- Surgical methods that reduce skin tension
You can visit your local dermatologist to learn more about how best to treat your hypertrophic or keloid raised scarring.