Scars and quality of life
Problematic scars can influence a patient’s quality of life in several ways.
Physical
Pain and irritation, such as an itch; recurrent wounds and ulcers can appear in unstable scars.
Cosmetic
Color changes and thickness, depression or irregularity of the scarred skin.
Functional
Functional problems due to stiffness and contractures.
Chronic ulceration in a scar may be a sign of an aggressive malignancy (Marjolin’s ulcer). Scar assessment scales, including the patient’s perspective, can help you evaluate the quality of a scar and identify problems related to scars in a systematic manner.
Patient-reported scar assessment scales have revealed that itching and pain are often more problematic for patients than the appearance of the scar, emphasizing the value of these scales.