Stretched or Discoloured Scars

The term stretched scars refers to when a wound has healed and the resulting scar has widened and thinned causing the scar to appear as though it has been stretched. This can be particularly frustrating, as this can occur some weeks or months after a scar initially appears to have healed normally. The reason this can happen is because tension is put on the wound during the healing process, and therefore will most often occur when the wound is close to a joint. When movement occurs during healing, the newly forming scar may be put under pressure and start to stretch. This isn’t to say that a healing wound should be kept still, as the new skin will need to be flexible.

A stretched scar can also occur due to a poor diet (in particular when malnutrition is present) or if a person suffers from general poor health. When a wound is healing, it is important to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet as well as a good level of hydration to help the body to work efficiently.

A discoloured scar may be lighter or darker than the healthy skin around it. Scars form in many colours, running from silver to dark brown through a spectrum that includes pinks, reds and purples. If a scar heals lighter, this is known as hypopigmentation (hypo indicates a lack of colour), and if a scar heals darker it is known as hyperpigmentation (hyper indicates excessive colour). Some different types of injuries may be more likely to cause either hyper or hypo-pigmentation post healing.

If you have a scar that appears stretched or discoloured, our team at Reshape & Restore have a number of treatments that may be able to help reduce the appearance of an unsightly scar. Improving the shape, size and colouring can leave you with a renewed sense of self-esteem and a more evenly toned, neater scar.