Scar Tissue and Massage

Any time there is an injury to the body, scar tissue may form on the surface of the skin or below. Many of us have scars from childhood incidents, teenage acne, surgery, or other injuries. While some may enjoy retelling stories of how they got a specific scar, many people wish they could minimize the appearance of scars. Whether you view scars as a badge of honor or wish they could disappear completely, there are medical reasons to consider addressing the scar tissue that accompanies the scars.

When trauma occurs to the skin, collagen cells clump at the site to pull the skin together and protect the wound from infection. Unfortunately, these cells often clump in a disorganized and unsightly manner and can reduce flexibility of the skin in that area. In some cases, the connective collagen tissue becomes excessively thick and creates an adhesion, where scar tissue causes two parts of the body to stick together. Adhesions most often occur after surgery or other internal trauma and can result in ongoing discomfort or pain.

The good news is that massage offers benefits in healing scar tissue, both externally and internally. One of the most important things you can do to increase flexibility in scar tissue is to keep it moving, and massage is a great way to accomplish this. The manipulation of the scar through massage can help loosen and diminish any adhesions internally and result in an overall flatter scar externally.

Massage also helps increase circulation, which is an important part of wound healing, though it shouldn’t be used during initial stages of wound healing. Once the wound is fully closed, massage can be used to increase blood flow for healing in the deeper levels of the skin. As normal blood flow returns to the scarred area, nearby skin reabsorbs the collagen and results in a flatter scar with less redness. 

Whether your concern is minimizing the appearance of a scar, increasing flexibility in the area, or reducing adhesions, massage is a great tool to use in scar tissue management for both recent and older injuries. If you are interested in reducing scar tissue, talk to your massage therapist about the best way to incorporate massage into your routine.