Will My Burn Skin Graft Go Away Over Time?

Skin is the body's largest organ and provides a protective barrier to the organs in the body as well as prevents both infection and water loss. When the skin is damaged by a burn or scald, the protective barrier of the skin is lost. If the skin is damaged beyond the top layer, a skin graft may be required for healing. 

What is a skin graft?  

In most cases, a skin graft is the transfer of healthy skin from one part of the body to another. Skin grafts are thin skin layers that surgeons remove from an unburned area of the body (known as the donor site) and then place on the burned wound. Common donor sites are the legs and the back but can be taken from any uninjured body area other than the face. 

Depending on the size and depth of the graft, the skin graft may be stapled, stitched, or glued to the wound. The healing time will also depend on the size and depth, but most grafts heal in about two weeks.

Types of skin grafts for burn wounds 

There are a variety of skin grafts, some that provide temporary cover and others for permanent wound coverage. The size, thickness, and condition of the wound and the area where the injury is on the body will determine which type of graft is used.   

• Autografts are permanent skin grafts that replace burned skin by removing skin from one area of the body and placing it on another. There are two types of autografts:

  • Split-thickness skin grafts are thin and involve removing the epidermis and a shallow dermis layer from the donor site. 

  • Full-thickness skin grafts removes the entire epidermis and dermis layers from the donor site. 

• Sheet grafts are similar to autografts but are not meshed, producing a smoother appearance. Sheet grafts are typically used on hands and faces.

• Allografts are temporary grafts taken from a skin bank (cadaver skin). 

• Mesh grafts are stretched in order to cover a larger area of the skin.

• Xenografts are temporary grafts taken from an animal (generally a pig).

Can I Reduce the Appearance of a Skin Graft?

Regardless of what type of skin graft is used, healing from a skin graft takes time. Initially, both the graft and donor sites will be red, inflamed, and thicker than other parts of the skin. The appearance of the skin graft and donor site will change over the weeks and months and will take up to two years to fully mature. It is essential to follow your healthcare team's instructions for proper healing.

Once the donor and graft sites are fully healed, survivors may look for ways to improve the appearance of their skin grafts. First and foremost, protecting both areas from the sun is extremely important. Sunburn to graft and donor sites may worsen the appearance of these areas.

In addition, burn scar massage may be a great technique to do to aid in the reduction of scarring, inflammation, and pain from the raised scars. Be sure to contact a licensed professional to be sure they're familiar with massage for scarring, and always consult your doctor to ensure healing is adequate before using massage techniques.  

Survivors can also receive laser treatments to improve the look of a skin graft. Laser treatments can alleviate itching, soothe redness, reduce thickness, and improve the surface, tightness, and scar structure. Results will vary from patient to patient, but laser treatments are an excellent option for those looking to enhance a skin graft's appearance. Lasers can also help those with mature graft sites. 

Connect with the burn community

If your loved one has skin burns and you are looking for resources and a community of individuals who help burn survivors experience optimal recovery, contact Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. We connect burn survivors with resources, support, and the training they need to live better lives.