How a scar changes
All biopsies and skin operations can leave a scar. Early scars may be pink, red, darker than nearby skin, firm, itchy or raised. They often soften and fade over months, with changes continuing for 12–18 months. The appearance at a few weeks is not the final result.
The operation, wound location, skin type, tension, healing and individual tendency to scar all influence the result. A graft also leaves a donor-site scar. Tell the team if you have developed thick scars before.
Once the wound is fully healed
Check with your clinician before starting scar treatments. Do not massage an open wound or an early graft, flap or BTM reconstruction.
- Use a plain moisturiser if recommended for the healed skin.
- Gentle massage may be advised once the scar is stable; ask the team to show you the pressure and technique.
- Silicone gel or sheets may be recommended for some scars. Follow the product and clinician’s instructions.
- Avoid activities that repeatedly stretch a healing scar until cleared.
A thick scar that stays within the wound is called hypertrophic. A keloid extends beyond the original wound. Contact the team if a scar becomes increasingly raised, painful, tight or limits movement.
Protecting your skin from the sun
Protect healed scars and the rest of your skin with clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, shade and sunglasses. Use broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 50+ sunscreen on exposed healed skin, following the label and reapplying regularly. Do not put sunscreen on an open wound unless directed.
Use sun protection when the UV level is 3 or above; it is not determined simply by temperature or a fixed time of day. Avoid deliberate tanning and solariums. New skin should not be exposed to sunlight as a wound treatment.
Between your skin checks
Get to know your own skin and follow your clinician’s self-check advice. A mirror or another person can help with areas you cannot see easily. Look for a new spot, a change in size, shape or colour, a spot that differs from others, or a lesion that bleeds or does not heal.
Bring concerns to the clinic’s attention promptly. At your Vectra appointment, point out any spots or lesions that concern you; do not assume photographs alone will answer a particular concern.
Your doctor will recommend a skin-check schedule based on your history and diagnosis. Some people need more frequent visits, lymph node examinations or other monitoring. A previous clear result does not replace future checks.
When to contact the team
Call 07 7520 8580 about a changing spot, a troubling scar or uncertainty about your next skin check. For a wound that opens, becomes increasingly painful or shows signs of infection, seek advice promptly through the wound concerns guidance.