Keloid Scarring and Dog Bite Claims
Typically, after a dog bite, initial treatment will be directed to treating the patient for possible infection, providing tetanus shots to prevent illness, and stitching open wounds. If severe bleeding has occurred or the severity of the injury demands it, surgery may be performed immediately.
However, to fully see how the dog bite trauma will heal requires time. Therefore, those who pursue a personal injury claim must be patient with the process as their personal injury lawyer cannot value the case until it is clear what the scarring prognosis will be, what treatment will be required and how the person will deal with emotional trauma associated with permanent scarring.
What is a Keloid Scar?
Some people develop keloid scarring after experiencing a dog bite. This sort of scar is quite visible and will require specialized treatment to minimize the appearance of the keloid.
Keloids affect men and women equally. It has been evidenced in medical articles that there is some genetic component that disposes of some of us to have a greater disposition towards the formation of keloids. Skin pigmentation also plays a role in their appearance. Darker pigmentation is more adversely affected with keloids than lighter pigmentation.
Keloids can also occur in a person who may not necessarily have a predisposition towards keloids. In these cases, the severity of trauma can provoke its formation as can severe infection of a wound or an adverse reaction to a foreign object in an injury.
Watch YouTube Video: Keloid Scarring and How it Occurs. This animated video shows how keloid scars are formed.
Keloid Scar vs Regular Scar
What differentiates a keloid scar from a regular scar is that the keloid scar has a firm or rubbery look or there will be shiny nodules visible to the naked eye. Depending on our skin color, the keloid scar can vary from pink to red or dark brown. Some keloid scars will be itching or painful and will completely change the texture of the area of the skin affected.
Keloid scarring occurs when the cells start to grow back after trauma. Unfortunately, in keloids the cellular signal that controls the growth of skin cells changes. The skin that replaces the injured area grows back as a raised overgrowth of scar tissue. As a result, the skin does not return to its natural appearance. In addition, the affected area of the skin will not be able to produce sweat glands or hair follicles.
Treatments for Keloid Scarring
There exists varied treatments depending on the severity of the scarring and depending on each person’s unique reaction to treatment. The treatment prescribed may include one or more of the following: freezing the tissue to kill skin cells, moisturizing oils to soften the tissue, corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation, laser treatments aimed at reducing scar tissue. In some instances, radiation of the affected area may be required or other types of surgical removal.
Sacramento Dog Bite Lawyers
If you have experienced trauma resulting from a dog bite or animal attack, please consult with an experienced dog bite lawyer. The Edward A Smith Law Offices has been handling animal attack cases since 1982 and have been very successful in obtaining positive results for their clients. To learn more about The Edward A Smith Law Offices, see their client reviews on Yelp or Avvo. They can be contacted anytime via live chat on their website, www.autoaccident.com and also via telephone at 916-921-6400 or 800-404-5400.