Do childhood scars grow with your child?

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Hi my 4 year old is left with 2 scars up to 2cm long on her arm following surgery to fix her broken bones. I’m finding it hard to accept them as they are a constant reminder of the trauma. At the moment they are purple/red and very prominent. I know they are likely to fade but I’m anxious to know will they grow with her or will they stay the same size while the rest of her arm grows? Any experiences would be appreciated. Thanks x

Not entirely, I'd say. As in, they don't sit in the original 2cm spot staying the same while the arm grows much bigger, but equally they don't grow consistently with the arm.

DS had quite a big slice on his cheekbone, right under his eye. It's unnoticeable now, unless you look for it.

It fades and stretches and the arm grows around it. I favour the 'fun stories about how it happened' myself. Shark bite, pirate fight, didn't duck fast enough and caught a flying saucer type stuff.

When they are small and perfect, it feels like a huge despoilment. As they get bigger and collect more, it's just history and war stories.

One of the longest lasting scars mine had was on his elbows. He was very 'lively'. He'd fall and graze his elbows badly, then persistently knock them open again landing badly on a chair or similar. They got quite bumpy and red looking. It eventually faded into normal scaly red bumpy, lumpy wrinkly elbows like we all have.

Thank you. She has a couple from the surgery on her elbow too. Those don’t bother me so much as they’re not looking at me every time I look at her. Thanks for sharing your experience xx

Thank you. You’ve hit the nail on the head xx

My son has knee surgery at 15 months old and was left with a large scar that was red/purple for a long time. He's 5yrs old now and already it's white/faded and not as noticeable in just a couple of years. I'm sure when he's grown even more it will be even less noticeable.

Depends on where they are located but some will stretch and grow. Eg stomach, chest scars.

They did grow, but not proportionally. Stayed white (won't tan now, had to cover in the sun for a couple of years) and bumpy.

This was also on an inner arm, caused by a combination of a scald and the treatment of it with greased mesh dressings - that is what made the bump pattern.

I was almost blinded and had a very prominent scar through my childhood. It is still visible, but I have to point it out to people before they notice.

I'd say it's stretched but it's pure white and just a dent really.

Do you have a product called Mederma in the UK? My daughter got a bad cut on her forehead when she was 11. The doctor recommended we use Mederma on the scar for a few months, and if it didn't go away, they would do plastic surgery. It worked great. She's 25 and you can't tell it was ever there.

I was badly burned on my leg as a child. It is still there but less visible, skin a different texture and shows more in the summer as it does not tan. It does not bother me really now. They become part of you.

My DD had a muscle biopsy with a hideous scar at 10 months old. It’s probably because she was so young that the scar did grow as she grew. It’s white and raised but on her thigh . (She’s disabled so perhaps her skin is more stretchy due to lack of muscle

Thank you for sharing xx

Do you think they will being on her forearm?

Thank you for sharing xx

That’s true, that they become part of you. Can’t wait for me to reach that stage of acceptance xx

I will have a look thanks xx

That’s good to hear thank you xx

a child that gets through childhood without scars is rare. They are a sign you have a story to tell. Mine has a huge one on his arm it’s just another interesting detail that makes him unique. But to reassure you it was dark lumpy and unsightly it is now pale flat and getting smaller as his arm is growing.

Thank you! This is really reassuring xx

They’ll fade.

My husband had a kettle of boiling hot water
fall on to his back when he was aged 2. The scar did grow with him but it’s part of him. I don’t even give it a second thought it’s just my husbands spongey back. Burns may be different though.

Yes they grow but they fade.

I do not wish to diminish your feelings as we are all different but I see huge good luck in the scars one of mine has.

Thank you for sharing xx

Thank you for sharing xx

My 16yo son has a scar from 10 years ago. It's faded a lot and bothers me a lot more than him. When other kids asked him if it hurt (it was very red/purple for a while), he used to prod it and say no to get a reaction.

His older sister has a scar on the middle of her forehead and it has faded too. She can hide it with her hair and I often forget until I get a glimpse through her hair.

Neither are bothered and see it as a story that makes them interesting.

That’s interesting to hear. Thank you. It doesn’t bother her either but it bothers me because I remember the trauma of the break and the surgeries that followed it xx