Do abrasion cause scars? (2023)

FAQs

Do abrasion cause scars? ›

The majority of abrasions heal without leaving any scar. However, the abrasions that extend into the dermis may result in scarring of the tissue upon healing. The most common mechanism of formation of abrasion is due to friction against the epidermis, resulting in its denudation.

Eventually, a scab dries up and falls off on its own, leaving behind the repaired skin and, often, a scar. Not every cut or scrape can make a scar, though many do.

When the skin is wounded, the tissues break, which causes a protein called collagen to be released. Collagen builds up where the tissue is damaged, helping to heal and strengthen the wound. New collagen continues forming for several months and the blood supply increases, causing the scar to become raised and lumpy.

It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.

As long as some of the layers of skin are still in place, new skin will form in the bottom of the wound and along the wound edges. The wound will heal from the bottom up. When a cut or scrape removes all of the layers of skin (a full-thickness avulsion injury), fat and muscle may be visible.

Not all wounds will become scars. Injuries that only damage the epidermis (top) layer of skin will likely not result in the formation of scar tissue. Paper cuts, scratches, and minor pimples are all examples of surface injuries that will generally not become scars.

During these stages, which we'll discuss more in-depth later on, the skin will grow new tissue and fill the wound to close it, leading to the formation of a scar. The new tissue is made up of fibrous tissue known as collagen. It can take 12 to 18 weeks for this process to complete.

Application of a triple antibiotic ointment (such as over-the-counter Bacitracin, Neosporin or Polysporin) three times a day to the wound for a full three weeks helps prevent infection and creates a better foundation for improved long-term scar appearance.

While it heals the scrape may stay moist and pink and ooze fluid or small amounts of blood. Over time, the area will turn pink and shiny as the new skin forms. This usually occurs when a scrape is kept covered with a bandage and is washed regularly with soap and water to remove the scab-forming tissue.

Do bandaids help with scarring? ›

In a sense, a bandage can help prevent scarring. Covering up the wound keeps bacteria and debris from entering the skin break and causing an infection. Ideally, you will keep the bandage in place for the first few days, changing it when necessary to ensure the wound stays clean.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends petroleum jelly for keeping a wound moist and to help prevent it from drying out and forming a scab, because they take longer to heal. This will also help prevent a scar from getting too large, deep or itchy.

Thick skin has the tendency to lead to greater scarring than thin skin. Some areas of the body like the soles of your feet and palms of your hands contain thick skin. Skin found in the eyelids and behind the ears (postauricular region) is thin.

A scar may fade so much that you can barely see it, but it never completely goes away. Some scars cause problems months or years later. As nerve endings grow back, the scar may become painful or itchy. Skin cancer can develop in scars, especially in burn scars.

“Usually the scars will heal rather quickly - within the course of a few weeks to one or two months - but you may not see final results for up to a year. Individual factors also influence how quickly your body is able to recover from a wound.” In older patients, or where the skin is more lax, scars settle more rapidly.

If you want to try an over-the-counter product, silicone gel or silicone sheets have the best evidence they can help reduce the appearance of scars. For more serious scars like keloids, other treatments like cryotherapy, laser resurfacing, or scar removal surgery may be an option.

Like minor cuts and burns, it's important to keep skin abrasions covered. A bandage will help keep the injury moist, which promotes healing. Covering the area will also keep bacteria away.

A handful of studies have found that when wounds are kept moist and covered, blood vessels regenerate faster and the number of cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than they do in wounds allowed to air out. It is best to keep a wound moist and covered for at least five days.

Protect and cover the abrasion.

Use a clean bandage or a piece of gauze with tape. This helps keep the wound clean, prevents bacteria from infecting the area and helps keep the wound from reopening. It also keeps the area moist to help with healing.

The skin surrounding scratches, even very light scratches, becomes red and raised. The raised marks will usually go away on their own within 30 minutes or so.

Will it scar if I don't get stitches? ›

Cuts that are left to heal without stitches have more prominent scars. All wound healing leads to some scar formation, but without stitches the scars can be wider and more noticeable.

Scars form when the dermis (deep, thick layer of skin) is damaged. The body forms new collagen fibers (a naturally occurring protein in the body) to mend the damage, resulting in a scar. The new scar tissue will have a different texture and quality than the surrounding tissue.

Aquaphor helps heal wounds by preventing them from drying out and scabbing, minimizing healing time. It can also prevent extensive scarring when applied to a minor wound. If using Aquaphor for a wound on your face, be sure to also clean the wound daily.

Aloe vera may lessen scar formation

Examples include: Boosting immune response. A 2009 article published in the International Journal of Natural Therapy reports that aloe vera may increase the immune system's response to inflammation, and this in turn may reduce the appearance of acne scarring.

MYTH: Hydrogen peroxide helps the skin heal better

REALITY: Hydrogen peroxide can actually slow down healing because it's too harsh on the skin tissue and can destroy new cells. It's best to clean your wound with just soap and water, according to the CDC.

If you have suffered from an abrasion, you may experience bleeding, discomfort, peeling or scabbing of the top layer of your skin. You may also notice a pinkish fluid oozing from the affected area.

What are the signs of a scar? When a scar first develops on lighter skin, it's usually pink or red. Over time, the pinkish color fades, and the scar becomes slightly darker or lighter than the color of the skin. In people with dark skin, scars often appear as dark spots.

How do you speed up abrasion healing? ›