Quick, first-aid burn treatment is an essential part of reducing the extent of damage and subsequent scarring caused by burns. If you have just experienced a skin burn then you should try to reduce the temperature of the area with luke warm, running water until medical assistance becomes available. This simple action will help maintain the damage from spreading.

Burn accidents produce three main types of scars: keloids, hypertrophic scars, and contracture scars. There is a complications and treatment option associated to each one of these burn scars.

Keloid Scar Treament

Keloids are known as overgrown scar tissue. This type of growth will extend beyond the edges of the original injury or wound. They are usually begin by being slightly red or pink and later end up turning a light brown over time.

If keloids are extensive or grow very large, they can restrict movement. They can also become irritated by clothing that rubs up against them. Another common characteristic that can accompany keloids is itchiness.

Keloid scars have a high rate of recurrence which makes them difficult to treat. Keloids are usually treated with steroid injections or pressure garments. However, surgery may be used to treat unresponsive scar tissue.

But, keep in mind, if you want to permanently heal burn scars, you'll have to submit yourself to an extensive treatment or they can reappear. In some cases it may be necessary to have the keloid scar removed surgically every few years.

Treatment of Hypertrophic Scars

These types of scars are also raised and thick. However, unlike keloid scars, hypertrophic scars only affect the original wound site. In these cases burn scar treatment is quite basic.

Hypertrophic scars usually respond well to steroid injections and pressure garments. If for some reason they do not respond as expected, the doctor may need to operate. After completing surgery, doctor's will care for the scar by applying pressure garments to keep it from recurring.

Contracture Scar Treatment Contracture scars from burns are perhaps the most dreaded part of extensive burns. A contracture scar is defined as a permanent tightening of the skin that can also affect muscles and tendons. This type of scar can extensively limit mobility.

The tightening is caused by non elastic scar tissue that replaces normal elastic connective tissue. Of course, the area becomes limited in how much it can stretch and extend.

The treatment for contracture scars begins with physical therapy, pressure garments and exercise to make the skin more elastic and improve mobility. However, if what you want is to remove burn scars of this nature, then you'll have to consider getting skin grafts implanted.