Scar spreading: what should I do?

Hi there...
I recently had a surgical procedure, and I’ve started noticing that my scar is beginning to widen—so I'm thinking it might be time to start applying something before it spreads too much (it's located on my upper arm)
So, I was wondering if it makes sense to treat a new scar using rosehip oil in combination with Dermatix (that silicone-based scar gel)? For instance, maybe applying Dermatix in the morning and then the oil in the afternoon? Or would it be better to just stick to one product? I'm mostly asking because I wouldn't want to cause some kind of adverse reaction by mixing things or overworking the skin, I guess.
That Dermatix was pretty pricey, around $110 for that little white tube, so I'm assuming you get what you pay for 🤷 (has anyone here actually tried it?)
Any and all advice is welcome
Thanks so much!

What’s your take on why the scar started spreading like that? Is the wound even actually healing?

I haven't actually used Dermatix myself, just Contratubex.
I also tried mixing in some Vitamin E oil and rosehip oil.
Honestly? My takeaway is that these creams are a bit overkill. They don't really change how the body heals, and they probably aren't even doing much harm—it's likely just a placebo effect at this point.
I deal with quite a few scars, and I’ve noticed my skin tends to spread them out too.
I've tried the creams, but the only real difference I noticed was one scar settling down slightly, mostly because the wound had been stitched in a way that left it raised.
At the end of the day, your skin is just your skin. It seems to depend on your biology. Just like how many Black Americans are more prone to keloids, everyone's skin heals in its own unique way.
Once the scar fades, you won't even notice it anymore.😉

@fadedmarlin402/">@@fadedmarlin402 - honestly, it’s healing—the wound has closed up and most of the scabs have finally fallen off.

@Amanda Allen92/">@@Amanda Allen92 - I think you’re right; skin texture varies so much, and I suppose where the scar actually sits makes a huge difference too. For instance, I have another scar somewhere else that's barely even noticeable—it's just a tiny, thin line... but this one on my upper arm? Good grief. This is actually the second time I’ve had to deal with it spreading, which is pretty scary considering it hasn't even been four weeks since my surgery. I guess if it were in a less obvious spot, I probably wouldn't be sweating it this much, but seeing it right there just makes me cringe 😢 oh well, it is what it is, I suppose...
Oh, and I was wondering, could gaining weight affect how fresh scars stretch out? I think I might have put on maybe two pounds since the procedure 😂

Not trying to be a buzzkill here, but I’m pretty sure that’s a keloid—I’ve got one on my arm from surgery too. I tried everything from coconut oil to random ointments, but if it really is a keloid, there isn't much you can do, unfortunately. Just curious, though—what color is the scar looking?

It was quite red initially, but now—four weeks post-op—it’s shifted to more of a pinkish hue (I suppose the color just fades over time). I’m mostly just hoping it doesn't spread too much, because that would mean dealing with a thick, ugly keloid in a visible spot, which would honestly be such an aesthetic nightmare for my self-confidence.
I am doing everything in my power to prevent that from happening, though—I’m avoiding sun exposure, making sure not to strain my arms too much, and using medical patches (which I feel somehow helps "hold" the skin together). I've also started applying some vitamin E oil, which seems to work wonders since it's quite oily and easy to spread... all in all, I'm being extremely cautious about it. 😁
Sam Hayes, where is your keloid located? Did yours come from a surgery as well?

Sam Hayes said:It was bright red, but now—four weeks post-op—it’s turned pink (looks like the color is fading, maybe?). I’m just praying it doesn't spread out too much; having a massive, ugly keloid in a visible spot would totally wreck my confidence.
I’m doing everything possible to stop that from happening—staying out of the sun, avoiding heavy lifting, using bandages (feels like they help "hold" the skin together), and I started using vitamin E oil since it’s oily and easy to apply... basically, I'm babying it like crazy. 😁
Where’s your keloid located? Is that from an old surgery too?

Yeah, yeah, same thing from surgery—but it’s been two years now and it hasn't shrunk at all, though it's stopped growing. It's on my upper arm, which is pretty visible, but I just wear long sleeves and call it a day. Doesn't really mess with my head; if nobody sees it, nobody cares, right?😁 As for the sun, I still hit the beach or use a tanning bed, but I try to protect it with a bandage—just a small one to cover that specific spot—so I don't overdo it in the sun.

@Sam Hayes/">@@Sam Hayes
I honestly don't think the weight gain has anything to do with it. I mean, how much could two pounds actually add to one single arm? 😁
Take me, for example. I’ve got all sorts of scars. One on my back is massive—probably five or six times larger than the one they removed—and then there's this tiny little line on my stomach that nobody even notices.
So, what you said about the location definitely makes sense.
From what I can tell, the upper torso seems more prone to this kind of thing, while the lower half isn't quite as bad.
And hey, your arm counts as the upper body, so yeah, it's a factor, but it's all part of the same deal. 😁
If it helps at all, I've got one spreading on my chest and two on my collarbone area, so don't sweat that arm too much. I think mine are way more likely to catch someone's eye anyway.
Plus, if it's already looking pink, that's actually a good sign. It means it's healing well.
Mine hit the 19-month mark recently 🙂 and they're still pink.
But really, you just have to wait and see how time handles it.

@Thomas Rodriguez14/">@@Thomas Rodriguez14
You might want to do a quick Google search on the difference between keloids and hypertrophic scars, because I'm pretty sure you're dealing with the latter.
Either way, you should probably just check in with your doctor to get a real diagnosis.
As for me, I just cover mine up with a long sleeve and call it a day. It keeps me from overthinking it. 🤷

@Amanda Allen92/">@@Amanda Allen92 — you’re probably right about the weight gain thing; I guess most of it just settles around my midsection first 😁
And, if I'm being honest, it feels like the skin on my upper arm is thicker there—which maybe makes it more prone to that messy healing process—whereas this other one, where the skin is thinner, is barely even noticeable, so I don't really count it as a scar. So, technically, I only have this one actual scar, and I am just crossing my fingers that it doesn't spread any further 😁
But seriously, tell me—how did you learn to be so okay with your scars? It seems like they don't really bother you much, while I'm sitting here getting all worked up over this one single thing... gosh, shame on me

I have a similarly massive scar running down my upper arm from a surgery I had over a decade ago. Since it spans the entire length of my arm and expanded to over an inch wide quite rapidly, I actually consulted a plastic surgeon (via my insurance provider) to see if they could fix it. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately, depending on how you look at it—he informed me that due to my specific skin type, I am prone to hypertrophic scarring. He warned that even after a corrective procedure, the scar would likely widen again within two or three years, leading to a perpetual cycle of surgeries. I decided to pass on any further operations. I simply am not prepared to go under the knife every couple of years. When I'm feeling particularly self-conscious, I just wear long sleeves, but otherwise, I don't mind much. As someone once wisely noted: if people don't like looking, they can just look away.

I completely agree—if someone else doesn't want to look, that's their business. But honestly, the scar itself is what bothers me. I just can't stand looking at it. During the winter, I can sort of ignore it, I guess, but in the summer, it feels like it's constantly in my line of sight, which just leaves me feeling frustrated. I know it sounds silly, and I realize it is, so I'm just hoping that one day I'll be able to accept it without getting so worn down by such trivial things (there are certainly bigger problems in the world out there)...
But does anyone else experience this tightness? Is it normal for things to still feel so tight even a month after surgery? Every time I try to stretch my arm just a little bit, I feel that pulling sensation, and I get this sudden wave of anxiety—this fear that the area might widen or stretch out, leaving me with nothing but trouble with that arm. I haven't even lifted anything heavier than a pound; I'm watching it like a hawk, being incredibly careful with it...😂
I've had to give up push-ups entirely for now 😢. Does anyone happen to know how long this healing process actually takes, or when it's safe to head back to the gym? I read somewhere that full healing could take anywhere from six months to a whole year...
Anyway, I've scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist—I'd really love to get a professional opinion—but I won't be seeing them for another ten days or so 😢
.
By the way, Kimberly Green23, has your scar faded at all, or is it still red or purple? Have you tried using any specific creams, gels, or oils?

Even after all these years, the scar hasn't fully faded away. It’s actually a bit brighter than it used to be, though it isn't quite white yet—it has more of a pinkish hue to it. I would honestly prefer if it turned completely white because my skin is extremely pale, which would make it much less noticeable. In the beginning, I tried applying some over-the-counter scar cream, but once I realized it wasn't doing much, I just gave up on it. I can't say I've entirely gotten used to it, either. Since the scar resulted from surgery following a major car accident, what bothers me most is when people start asking those intrusive questions, you know, like "So, what happened?" or "Was it really bad?" and all that. Otherwise, my arm felt tight for a long time. I spent over six months going to physical therapy sessions to get my muscles functioning again (and I had to do that twice—once right after the accident and again after they removed the surgical pins). The therapists told me that the movement helps soften the scar tissue to reduce that pulling sensation. It seems they were correct, because from a functional standpoint, I don't have any issues now; I can even carry heavy things, like groceries or whatever else comes up in daily life. But, don't tell anyone, but whenever I'm feeling lazy or just don't want to do something, I still manage to use the excuse, "I can't, I had an injury," and then the scar serves its purpose perfectly well.

@Sam Hayes/">@@Sam Hayes
How did I learn to deal with this? Honestly, I'm still figuring it out 😁
I'm not quite ready to rock low-cut tops just yet, but I definitely plan to. It’s not like I intend to hide them forever.
Besides, I’ve actually grown pretty fond of them lately. I find myself looking at them and thinking they're actually kind of charming.🤣
And you know, it really helps when someone tells you, "Oh, why even bother stressing over that?" It’s even better when you actually take that advice to heart and realize how silly it is to think everyone is staring at you and your scars.
I mean, let's be real—everyone else seems to be walking around without any little imperfections.
So, that's the deal. You've got two of them (well, maybe just one is visible 🙂), but for what it's worth, I have ten, and maybe only one or two are even noticeable.
So don't worry. I truly believe the "problem" looks way bigger in your own eyes than it does to anyone else.
Plus, as they heal and stretch out, they eventually tighten up again. It's not a huge change, but you can tell the difference.
As for how fast they heal? That’s different for everyone. It might even have something to do with getting older.
The very first scar I got back in 2001 faded and lightened up within about four months. Nowadays, for some people, it can take two whole years and they still look pink.
But again, it all depends on where the scar is located.
Ugh, I guess I went on a bit of a tangent there 😍
I'm off to go look in the mirror and tell them how cute they are 🤣

@Sam Hayes/">@@Sam Hayes - I guess I occasionally find myself making jokes about my scars too, haha 😍 but yeah, since they’re still pretty fresh, I can handle it—and I imagine I will be able to down the road, too 😁
It also really bugs me when people start prying into what actually happened. I mean, it wasn't like I was in some massive multi-car pileup on the I-95, but even so, I don't exactly enjoy reliving it. I tried using that Contractubex stuff everyone talks about, but honestly, it didn't do much for me—if anything, I suspect it might have actually made things worse by spreading the area out. So now, I've switched to rosehip oil, and so far, it seems to be working okay.

@teebee
So, yeah, it's mostly a mental game, though I have to admit it weighs on me quite heavily. And honestly? I can't imagine having a few more of them; I think I’d lose my mind. So, seriously, kudos to you for your strength—I really hope that you and your scars find a way to coexist more peacefully every single day 😍
As for me, I think I'll need to have a serious heart-to-heart with my only child. I'll have to explain that it isn't that I don't love them, it's just that I need some space, hehe—I definitely wouldn't want them feeling like they're somehow less important 🤣