Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids, Part 1: Conventional Treatments

Different methods have been described to improve the final cosmetic result of scars. Both preventive and therapeutic measures sometimes require a combination of surgical and medical modalities to achieve a successful treatment plan that ultimately results in the decrease of scar formation, resolution of existent scar, and reduction of recurrence rates. When choosing the most appropriate treatment, physicians should decide on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the age and cultural aspects of the patient, as well as the location of the scar, tensional area involved, the size and shape of the scar, and symptoms. Part 1 of this series describes conventional treatments and part 2 discusses newer and investigational therapies for hypertrophic scars and keloids.