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 basic first aid action will help you contain the damage to the initial wound site.

When skin suffers from a burn, there are three main types of scars that can appear: keloids, hypertrophic scars, and contracture scars. Each one of these scars has its particular complication and treatment options.

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 red or pink in color and end up turning a light brown over time.

If keloids are large in size they can become restrictive and make movement difficult. Keloids are usually itchy and can become irritated when clothing rubs up against them.

It's not easy to treat keloid scars because they have a high rate of recurrence. This type of scar is 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 more complicated cases you may need to have the keloid or keloids removed surgically every couple of 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. Burn scar treatment, in these cases, is quite straightforward.

Normally, hypertrophic scars react quite 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.

Treatment for Contracture Scars Contracture scars from burns are perhaps the most dreaded part of extensive burns. A contracture scar can reach deep into the body. It is a permanent tightening of the skin that can also affect muscles and tendons. This type of scar can extensively limit mobility.

The tightening occurs because non elastic scar tissue replaces normal elastic connective tissue. Of course, this tightening limits the mobility of the skin and keeps it from being able to stretch as it once did.

Treatment for contracture scars includes physical therapy, pressure garments, and exercise to make the skin more elastic and improve mobility. However, to remove burn scars of this nature, the victim must have skin grafts implanted.