Burn Scars

Burn scars occur when burns damage the skin. For burns that only affect the outer layers of the skin, the scar tissue fades over time. When the deeper layers of the skin are damaged, it causes more permanent scarring that can have a thick, leathery, or irregular appearance.

First-degree burns often heal on their own without scarring. Second and third-degree burns usually leave behind scars. After your skin has been burned, scarring results, which undergoes a process of maturation. A component of this process is that the scar shrinks, known as contracture.

These scars tighten skin, which can impair your ability to move, especially if they are located close to a joint. Contracture scars may also go deeper, affecting muscles and nerves. Burn scars may or may not be painful. Hypertrophic scars may feel itchy and warm to the touch, while contracture scars make it more challenging to have a free range of motion.

The appearance of burn scars includes:

• Colour changes – the tissue may be a different colour that is either darker or lighter than your natural pigmentation.
• Texture – the scar may have a thick, tough or fibrous texture and can be shiny or smooth.
• Tissue changes – the tissue may be raised or indented.