A scar that is puffy, or raised, can be described as either a hypertrophic or keloid scar. Puffy scarring sustained from injury or surgery may also be classified as a tumor, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, or AOCD. Hypertrophic scars tend to be smaller and not as puffy as keloids, which can grow to be quite large and may interfere with movement or essential functions, like vision or hearing. Getting rid of puffy scars can take time and a variety of treatments.
Step 1
Wear a pressure bandage on your scar for at least 12 hours every day to diminish its raised features. The New Zealand Dermatological Society's DermNet information service suggests applying silicon gel to the bandage to promote healing, and to wear the bandage up to 24 hours daily for best results. Prepare to use pressure bandages for two to three months to get rid of puffy scarring.
Step 2
Heal a hypertrophic or keloid scar with corticosteroid medications. Medications of this kind are generally used to reduce inflammation and, in some cases, may shrink the scar tissue. Corticosteroids are injected into the scar site every few weeks. The AOCD notes that hypertrophic scars are more likely to flatten over a period of months, but keloid scarring may not respond as well.
Step 3
Get rid of puffy scars through laser or X-ray treatments. X-ray treatments to decrease the raised characteristics of scarring are employed not long after you've had surgery; laser therapy can be used later on. DermNet NZ explains that pulsed laser therapy--intense concentrations of light--might provide desired results, but like steroid injections, hypertrophic scars resolve themselves more easily than keloid scarring.
Step 4
Freeze off the excess scar tissue with cryotherapy. According to DermNet NZ, cryotherapy, sometimes called cryosurgery, uses liquid nitrogen to detach abnormalities, like scars, warts or precancerous cells, from the rest of your skin. The nitrogen is very cold, approximately minus 320 degrees F, and may burn or sting when applied.
Step 5
Remove your puffy scars surgically. Surgical excision is sometimes the only way to remove a large keloid successfully, according to the AOCD. Keloids can reappear and may require future surgeries as a recurring treatment and management method.
Things You'll Need
- Pressure bandages
- Silicone gel
- Steroid injections
- Laser therapy
- Cryotherapy
- Surgery
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