The Benefits of Scar Massage for Burn Survivors

As someone who has suffered from scarring due to severe burn injuries, you may be curious about scar massage for burns. If you are concerned about whether it is safe to go to a massage therapist to care for scar tissue, in general, the answer is yes, it is safe. However, there are several factors to consider before getting a burn scar massage. Learn more about massage for burn scars and the benefits of this type of scar management tool to see if this is the right choice for your health and wellness needs.  

What is Burn Scar Massage 

A burn scar massage can help relieve skin tissue and muscle fiber tension. If you have burn scars on areas such as forearms or the legs, these limbs are likely to feel stiff or sore due to the skin tightening associated with burns and scarring. The solution is scar massage for burns. A physical/occupational therapist or massage therapist can reduce pain and suffering using professional massage techniques.  

Massage works to stimulate oxygen-rich blood to circulate throughout the body. This reduces inflammation, as well as thickness, elasticity, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and sebum production. Each of these are areas of the skin that are affected by scars from a burn. Medical studies have determined that massage therapy can improve hypertrophic scars in these areas.   

In a research study of 146 burn patients, all received rehab therapy, and 76 patients also received burn scar massage therapy. The results “suggest that burn rehabilitation massage therapy is effective in improving pain, pruritus, and scar characteristics in hypertrophic scars after [a] burn.” 

Therefore, by adding scar massage therapy to a standard rehabilitation therapy program, burn survivors can see improvements. Massage can help break down internal scar tissue and underlying adhesions. It can reduce swelling/edema and also help with pliability, range of motion, and itching. It may also help with the color of scar tissue – but sometimes all the benefits last until a certain point, which is different for every survivor, and then they would need another massage for the same results.  

Benefits of Scar Massage for Burns  

Getting a scar massage can offer many promising benefits for burn survivors. According to Massage Magazine, common health concerns for burn survivors include skin dryness, nerve damage (neuropathy), stiffness and restricted range of motion due to scar tissue, permanent disfigurement, and a range of emotional and psychosocial trauma. 

To improve your mobility in an area of the body with burn scars, you may consider massage therapy. The physical pressure associated with massage helps to stimulate cells, activating them to wake up and work harder. As a result, you may see more rapid healing of skin tissue and muscles damaged by burns. Massage therapy also helps to improve your entire well-being. When performed at least once a day during the critical healing period, burn scar therapy combines gentle massage strokes, pressure, skin moisturizers, and heat. The result is more flexible skin, less pain and itching, and less noticeable scarring. 

Getting a massage and working on releasing muscle tension will stimulate endorphins, which are feel-good hormones. As endorphins course through your body, this helps reduce muscle pain and fatigue throughout the entire musculoskeletal system. You are also more relaxed after a single massage session, thanks to the reduced muscle tension. 

Who should you go to for a scar massage for burns? 

Many massage therapists may not be trained for the specific needs of a burn survivor. Since you are using massage for burn scars, you want to select the right massage therapist for healthcare purposes. Otherwise, you can end up doing more harm than good with the use of massage for burn scarring.   

Ideally, you will be able to find a massage therapist that has experience with burn scar massage. However, other optional resources for getting this type of specialized treatment include occupational therapists, as well as physical therapists working at the burn unit and pain clinics. These individuals are trained and certified in specific massage and therapy modalities that are best suited to your needs. As someone with a burn scar, you want and deserve to have the right type of treatment.