Scar And Pain
We all have scars, big and small ones, long and short ones. It is simply a part of life, and the longer you have lived for, the more scars you would likely have. Although scars are a normal part of healing, they can have different effects on the body, depending on their size, location, as well as the underlying tissue affected.
1. Physical Effects
Tissue Changes: Scar tissue is different from normal tissue. It tends to be thicker, less elastic, and may restrict movement if it forms over joints, leading to stiffness or a limited range of motion.
Texture and Sensation: Scars can feel tight or hard compared to normal skin. In some cases, they may cause itching, tenderness, or even pain due to nerve involvement during healing.
Contractures: When a scar pulls the edges of the skin together too tightly, it can cause contractures, which are more severe in burns or large wounds. Contractures can limit mobility, especially if they occur near joints.
Nerve Damage: Deep scars can affect underlying nerves, leading to numbness or altered sensation in the affected area.
2. Cosmetic Effects
Discoloration: Scars can be darker or lighter than surrounding skin. Over time the colour may fade, but the scar itself can remain noticeable.
Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars: In some cases, the body produces too much collagen, leading to raised, thickened scars. Keloid scars extend beyond the boundaries of the original wound and can be painful or itchy.
3. Psychological and Emotional Effects
Self-esteem and Confidence: Visible scars can affect a person's self-image, especially on prominent areas like the face or hands. Some people may feel self-conscious or anxious about their appearance.
Emotional Distress: Particularly after traumatic injuries or surgeries, scars can be a reminder of the event, which may trigger emotional problems further down the line.
4. Functional Effects (If Large or Deep)
Adhesions (Internal Scars): In some cases, internal scars (adhesions) can form after surgeries or injuries. These scars can connect tissues or organs that aren’t normally connected, leading to pain or impaired function, especially in the abdomen or chest.
There are many treatments, both in clinic and at home, that can be administered to reduce the appearance of the scar, as well as relieving symptoms caused by it.
There are topical ointments and creams that have been designed to reduce the appearance of scars, one of the more researched and approved active ingredient is silicone.
Cosmetic surgeries can also help to reduce its appearance, such as laser therapy, steroid injections, and removal surgery, but these are often costly and quite invasive.
Physical and neurological therapy can both reduce the appearance of scar, and relieve the symptoms that have been caused by it. The proprioceptors (nerve endings) on the surface and surrounding areas of the scar can become sensitised when it’s formed. These sensitivities can lead to reduced range of motion by muscle contraction, as well as pain. On top of that, emotions that are attached to the scar should also be addressed properly to help the person recover fully from it.
