Yes, scars can grow as you grow, especially scars from surgical procedures performed in infancy.
While it's a common assumption that scars remain the same size after they form, recent findings indicate otherwise, particularly in children. A study highlighted that scars from surgery done in infancy can grow significantly as the child develops into adulthood.
How Scars Change Over Time
Scars change in appearance, but not always in size. Here's a breakdown:
- Initial Scar Formation: Immediately after an injury, a scar is usually red, raised, and may be itchy.
- Maturation Phase: Over time, scars typically fade in color and flatten.
- Growth with the Body: Research suggests that scars from early surgeries can grow proportionally as a child grows, especially if the scar is over a growth area of the body.
The Study and Its Findings
A study has observed significant scar growth in two patients who underwent a standard right upper quadrant (RUQ) pyloromyotomy incision in infancy. The findings support the notion that scars resulting from surgical procedures in infancy grow more substantially with age than previously realized.
This was not a generalized scar growth but a specific type of surgical scar in early infancy, and not all scars grow in the same manner.
Here is a summary of the findings:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Type of Scar Studied | Surgical scars from RUQ pyloromyotomy in infancy |
| Observed Growth | Significant increase in scar length and area as the patients grew |
| Key Implication | Scars from infant surgeries grow substantially with age |
Factors Influencing Scar Growth
Not all scars grow the same way. Here are some factors that can affect scar growth:
- Age at Injury: Scars in younger children seem to grow more proportionally with overall body growth.
- Location of the Scar: Scars over areas of rapid growth, such as near the abdomen in the study, might show more substantial growth.
- Type of Injury: Surgical scars, due to precise wound closure, might show more growth as the skin has been brought together in a way that promotes alignment during growth.
- Individual Skin Characteristics: Individual variation in skin elasticity, tissue repair, and genetic predispositions can affect how a scar matures and grows.
- Wound Healing Environment: Factors such as nutrition, wound care, and infection status can influence scar formation.
Practical Implications
- Parents of children who have undergone early surgery should be aware of the potential for scar growth.
- Surgeons should consider the implications of scar growth when planning procedures in infants and children.
In conclusion, while many scars fade and flatten with time, those resulting from surgery in infancy can grow as the body grows, particularly when the scar is over a growth area.
