Almost everyone knows that as a result of damage to the skin, and then its fusion, scars form. But in some cases, connective tissue begins to grow on the edges of the wound, which fuse abnormally, forming a colloidal scar. Such scars do not rise above the skin, but have a denser structure, they have a tendency to overgrow and increase density. Doctors recommend starting treatment of the pathology as early as possible, only in this way can a person recover completely. Scars are usually formed as a result of improperly performed surgical sutures, wound overgrowing on their own or when a secondary infection is attached.
Description and description of the problem
A colloid scar is an abnormal growth of connective tissue at the edges of the wound during its healing, which leads to the formation of a dense scar that does not rise above the surface of the skin. The type of defect directly depends on the area of ​​the injury, its location, the statute of limitations, and also on the age of the person. Often patients perceive this phenomenon as residual, therefore they do not go to a medical institution. As a result of this, the seal changes its structure, transforming into a cartilaginous scar of a blue or red hue, which can reach large sizes. For example, a colloidal scar after removal of a mole may become more dense, acquiring a red color.
Keloids are significantly different from the early form of injury that was caused. This is due to the spread of the abnormal process along the line of skin stretching. Sometimes the scar affects healthy areas of the skin, forming long cords similar to the legs of a crab. Often, extensive keloids after burns are transformed into scars that significantly tighten the skin, as a result of which a person is not able to bend his limbs. A photo of colloidal scars is presented below.
The color of such abnormal scars can be bright red or blue. As the scar grows, a person experiences pain, itching and paresthesia. Most scarring affects the neck, face, shoulders and chest. On the ears, keloids form in the places where the earrings are pierced. Here they appear in the third week after the punctures, when the inflammation has already subsided. Such scars can also form several years after the injury. Sealed areas are able to reach large sizes.
Varieties of pathology
Colloidal scar is of two types:
- Primary appears suddenly without the influence of external factors. Usually scars form on the neck, chin, back and ears.
- Secondary colloids form as a result of severe injuries or skin diseases. In this case, the process of natural healing of the wound is disrupted due to a decrease in immunity and the attachment of a secondary infection. Such scars form one year after the injury or two months after the burns.
Young colloids are also isolated that formed no more than five years ago and continue to increase in size, and long-standing scars that formed more than five years ago have an uneven surface and pale color, while they do not increase in size. A photo of colloidal scars will be presented in this article.
Stages of the development of pathology
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish several stages of colloid formation:
- The first stage of epithelialization is when a primary film of epithelium is formed at the wound site, which becomes denser and coarser for seven days. In this form, the scar persists for about two and a half weeks.
- The second stage of swelling is characterized by an increase in the size of the neoplasm, its elevation above the skin, the presence of pain during palpation. After four weeks, the pain goes away, but redness increases.
- The third stage of compaction is caused by the formation of a colloid.
- The fourth stage of softening, in which the scar turns pale, this soreness disappears.
Causes of Colloids
In medicine today, no clear reasons for the development of scars are established. There are general prerequisites that can trigger the proliferation of connective tissue. These prerequisites include:
- chronic injuries;
- violation of the hormonal system;
- pregnancy;
- the presence of chronic infections;
- hereditary predisposition;
- surgical procedures;
- the presence of wounds, abrasions and injuries;
- complications after acne;
- burns;
- suppuration of the wound as a result of its infection;
- BCG vaccine;
- piercing.
Causes of primary (spontaneous) scars
Spontaneous colloids form for no apparent reason. Old injuries may not be completely cured, although the skin in their place is no different from healthy ones. In this case, the formation of scars can provoke disturbances in the activity of organs and systems of the body, as well as various diseases of an infectious nature. Doctors associate the appearance of colloids with a person's predisposition to seborrhea. This is due to the fact that scars usually occur in places characteristic of seborrhea: neck, shoulder blades, chin, ears and décolleté. Multiple scars may result from a genetic predisposition.
Causes of Secondary Scars
A secondary colloid scar occurs as a result of complications after an injury and the occurrence of skin diseases. Typically, this phenomenon is observed in people under thirty years of age, which is caused by age-related skin problems. In this case, colloids can form on any part of the skin. If wound healing is impaired due to inflammation or suppuration, a pathological scar is formed. Typically, this phenomenon is diagnosed in medicine in the first six months after the injury, after burns, scars occur after three months. A characteristic feature of neoplasms is that they never ulcerate. Often there are colloidal scars after surgery.
Symptoms and signs of the disease
The formation of keloids usually begins within a short period of time after the injury. Medicine knows cases of spontaneous appearance of abnormal scars without damaging the integrity of the skin. Especially often this phenomenon is observed in the chest area.
At the initial stages of development, the scar has a pink color, with time it turns red, and then turns pale. It is slowly increasing in size. At the same time, a person feels a pulsation, pain during palpation, itching. The formations go beyond the boundaries of the original wound, but they do not sprout the borders of the skin.
Colloids do not pose a threat to human life and health. But often they bring the patient severe psychological discomfort, especially if they are localized in open areas of the skin. Sometimes they limit the mobility of the limbs.
If an abnormal scar is damaged, it will heal heavily, provoking the development of complications. Scars cannot disappear on their own, therefore, their effective treatment is necessary.
Complications and consequences
Doctors say that abnormal scars do not pose a threat to human health. Their treatment is primarily due to the aesthetic aspect. Colloids can hamper the movement of a person, this is especially true after suffering burns. Also, the scar is prone to increase in size and constriction of the skin, often a person is forced to choose his wardrobe based on the localization of pathological areas.
It has been established in medicine that colloids can degenerate into a cancerous tumor only if radiation therapy is used as a treatment. In this case, there is a risk of developing oncology in twenty-five years, although this probability is very small. For this reason, doctors do not use radiation therapy to treat people with this pathology.
Diagnosis of abnormal scars
Colloid scars, reviews of which are negative due to the unattractive appearance of a person, as well as psychological discomfort, are easy to diagnose. Usually, doctors encounter secondary colloids. The doctor studies the history of pathology, conducts a survey and examination of the patient, during which the appearance of the scar, its size and structure are studied. Based on such diagnostic methods, an accurate diagnosis is made and treatment tactics are developed.
Treatment of pathology with medicines
Therapy of abnormal scars involves the use of conservative, physical methods, in some cases, surgical intervention is performed. Also often used is the treatment of colloidal scars with folk remedies. But all these methods can be suitable for patients, it all depends on the age and individual characteristics of the body.
Drug therapy includes the use of such groups of drugs:
- Corticosteroids, which are injected into the scar to prevent its compaction. Such treatment takes about five weeks. During this time, it should completely smooth out. The use of an ointment for colloidal scar along with the introduction of drugs is also prescribed. After the use of such drugs in 30% of cases relapse occurs, in this case, the removal of the colloid is carried out surgically.
- Interferons, which help reduce the production of collagen fibers that make up colloids. Such treatment begins immediately after surgery. The drug is injected into the seam area through every centimeter of the skin. After two weeks, the procedure is repeated, then it is carried out for four months weekly.
- The drug 5-fluorouracil is also injected into the scar, sometimes together with corticosteroids. The procedure is repeated three times a week for one month. This method is more efficient.
An ointment for colloidal scars may also be prescribed. This is especially true after burns. In this case, ointment “Kontraktubeks” or “Lyoton”, as well as cream “Kelofibraza”, “Fermenkol” or Spenko silicone plates are often used.
Physical impact
The patient may be assigned one of the following methods of therapy:
- Surgical excision of pathological tissues. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the infection does not get into the open wound.
- Radiation therapy is used very rarely due to the risk of developing a cancerous tumor in the future. This method is used after surgery, the procedure is carried out four times over two weeks.
- Freezing with liquid nitrogen. The doctor conducts three sessions of therapy. This method of treatment gives good results.
- Laser therapy has the advantage that healthy tissue is not injured. But often, such treatment leads to the development of a relapse of the pathology, since the laser only affects the surface layer of the scar.
- Electrophoresis is used at the initial stage of the development of pathology.
Alternative therapy
Very often, alternative treatment for colloidal scars is acceptable. In this case, they can be eliminated only in a combination of folk remedies with the main method of therapy. Often patients use lotions, compresses and applications based on medicinal herbs.
For a compress, they take the leaves of woodlice, put them in a jar and pour in vegetable oil. The container is sent to a dark place for two weeks. Then the infusion is filtered, a napkin is moistened with it and applied to the pathological area, a tissue dressing is placed on top. With a compress they go about half an hour.
An effective treatment of colloidal scars with folk remedies is also offered in the form of lotions from sea buckthorn oil, which is mixed with honey. Colloids are wiped with this solution. This tool helps to improve blood circulation.
Forecast and Prevention
Today in medicine, the mechanism of development of keloid scars is not fully understood. For this reason, none of the above methods of therapy gives an absolute guarantee that the disease will not begin to recur. The most effective in this case is the combined treatment, which involves the use of several methods simultaneously. The prognosis may worsen due to untimely access to a doctor. Often patients come to the clinic after they have tried several alternative therapies that did not bring the desired result.
Prevention of pathology is the refusal of cosmetic procedures in the presence of a tendency to scarring. After removing moles, it is recommended that you follow all the doctor's instructions for caring for the injured area of ​​the skin. With the onset of the first symptoms of the disease, you can use the cream "Contractubex", but you must visit a doctor.