Severe skin burns often cause scars to form. These can be relatively small or cover large portions of the body, depending on the extent of the burn. Burns can cause three types of scars: contracture scars, hypertrophic scars and keloid scars. Although there are a variety of treatments used to treat scars, some of these do not work well for burn scars.
Step 1
Employ pressure. According to several plastic surgeons from the Center of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, General State Hospital of Athens, Greece, a raised scar can be flattened by applying pressure (using a pressure bandage) for several months. A pressure bandage is designed so that it will apply pressure without cutting off circulation, so it can be used anywhere on the body.
Step 2
Apply fatty ointments. Fatty ointments penetrate into the skin well and, when applied two times a day for several months, can create a fatty barrier at the edge of the scar, which will help prevent inflammation and irritation, which increase the visibility of a scar. They are available over the counter.
Step 3
Use silicone sheets. Silicone sheets soften the surface of scars as well as generate pressure on the scar, smoothing out its appearance. These sheets can be purchased over the counter and should be worn continuously for approximately twelve weeks, with the sheets being replaced every three to four days. They should produce noticeable results after four to eight weeks.
Step 4
Receive steroid injections. According to Dr. Gibson of the Mayo Clinic, steroid injections reduce inflammation and break down some of the scar tissue. This treatment is especially useful for raised scars.
Step 5
Receive scar revision surgery. This technique, performed by plastic surgeons, generally involves covering the scarred area with either a flap of skin or a skin graft, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Things You'll Need
- Pressure bandage
- Fatty ointment
- Silicone sheet
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