There are a range of options to treat scars from prescription medications to steroid procedures. 

At Double Bay Doctors, Dr Alice Jiao and Dr Cynthia Yang perform specialised scar treatments including Intralesional Steroid Therapy, which can be effective at treating both keloid and hypertrophic scars.

Common types of scars

+ Keloid scars are raised above the skin’s surface and can spread beyond the wounded area. The overgrown scar tissue can get large and puffy, and may affect movement. These types of scars are typically seen at the site of a smallpox vaccination.

+ Hypertrophic scars can be felt when you run your finger over it. These raised scars may get smaller over time, but they never completely flatten out. Unlike keloids, they don’t grow or spread beyond the wounded area.

+ Contracture scars often develop after a burn. They cause the skin to tighten (contract) and can make it difficult to move, especially when the scarring gets into the muscles and nerves or occurs over a joint.

+ Adhesion scars are bands of scar tissue that join two surfaces of the body that are usually separate. The formation of scar tissue occurs in response to tissue disturbance caused by surgery, infection, injury (trauma) or radiation.

Keloid scar risk factors

+ Young people under the age of 30 who have darker-coloured skin
+ People who are exposed to elevated hormone levels (e.g. during puberty or pregnancy)
+ People with a family history of keloid scarring

Intralesional Steroid Therapy

Intralesional Steroid Therapy involves the injection of a corticosteroid directly into a lesion on or immediately below the skin. 

This injection can be used to treat raised hypertrophic or keloid scars. It can also be used to rapidly treat inflamed acne cysts and other skin conditions such as alopecia areata. 

Information regarding scar treatments fees can be found here.