How to Get Rid of Dark Purple and Raised Scar?

Natasha
Most fresh scars appear reddish in color as this is a sign of wound healing and new collagen production. Sometimes this healing can be excessive and a hypertrophic or keloid scar can develop. Without seeing a picture of your scar it would be difficult to comment on it. This type of excessive healing or scar formation doesn't begin before 6 weeks from your injury. Most likely you are healing normally. In the event that you are forming scar tissue, vascular lasers such as KTP or pulse dye are very helpful when the scar is still in its red stages. Once it matures and turns white, other lasers such as Fraxel work well to blend the scar with the surrounding skin.
Using mederma or silicone gel helps a fresh scar heal even faster lowering the risk for poor healing. You can begin this immediately if you are concerned. Consult with your plastic surgeon-dermatologist.
Good luck
Ran Rubinstein, MD

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Traumatic scars are very distressing for a number of reasons. The scar is a constant reminder of the act that caused them to begin with. The maturation process of a scar can be quite prolonged and there are very few things that can be done to expedite the process.

Silicone gel sheeting has been shown to help prevent discoloration and hypertrophy of the scar.
Steroids injections can help with already hypertrophic scars.
Lasers (pulse dye, Fractional) can help with discoloration.

Time is what has proven to be most effective in the healing process and the older the scar, if it does not require revision, the better the scar will look.

While scars from trauma can take a long time to heal, there are measures you can do to improve their appearance. The most important thing to do is sun avoidance or wear sunscreen. Secondly, topical creams like mederma or silicone gels and sheeting can help. Thirdly, vascular laser treatments can help scars to mature quicker and often result in a better appearance by taking the darker color out of the scar. Finally, steroid injections can help their appearance as well. If all else fails, they can be surgically revised after about six months to a year.

Sorry to hear about your injury. The scar is new and in the worst part of the healing process. I would advice patience as a full thickness skin laceration will take a year to fully heal. It is important to avoid the sun during the healing process and to apply sunscreen liberally and often. Silicone gel sheeting or bleaching cream may ultimately be of value but I would caution against their use except at the direction of a boad certified plastic surgeon so that the correct modality is correctly employed.

On its own the scar will remain purple for 6 months to one year or more. It will usually flatten down but may not do so completely. The best and and least invasive treatment is with an Intense Pulse Light (a laser like device) or with a Pulse Dye Laser, either of which will improve the color and thickness in several treatments which have little or no down time.

 It is hard to tell what the scar will finally look like, but most usually fade over time turn red initially and then become white afterwards.