Skin scarring: new insights may make adjustment easier

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7392.765/a

BMJ 2003;326:765 ( 5 April )

Letters

Skin scarring: new insights may make adjustment easier

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ Skin scarring is a clinical problem that can cause many psychological and social difficulties $---$ some as a result of thecause of the scarring (for example, trauma), some related to theeffects (for example, itching), and many to the appearance ofthe scar itself. In the review by Bayat et al their argument thata decision to treat will depend on site, symptoms, severity offunctional impairment, and stigma would be enhanced by the inclusionof two crucial insights from recent psychological literature,insights that can make it much easier for patients to adjust tothese problems.¹

Firstly, much research has now confirmed that the seriousness of psychosocial sequelae is not positively correlated with theseverity, size, or location of scarring.² It is therefore importantin the clinical examination and assessment process that doctorsdo not make assumptions about the psychosocial impact of scarring $---$ itis important to . . . [Full text of this article]