How to Treat Scars Due to Motorcycle Injuries

• Table of Contents
• 1. Motorcycle Injury Scars
• 1.1 Motorcycle Injury Scar Types
• 2. Scars Caused by Road Rash
• 2.1 Road Rash Degrees
• 3. How to Treat Motorcycle Injuries & Scars?
• 3.1 Examine the Severity of the Injury
• 3.2 Stop the Bleeding
• 3.3 Use an Antibiotic Solution
• 3.4 Dress the Wound
• 3.5 Visit a Physician
• 4. Tips for Minimizing Scarring After a Motorcycle Accident
• 4.1 Clean the Injury Properly
• 4.2 Keep Injuries Moist
• 4.3 Hydrate
• 5. The Cost of Scars Due to Motorcycle Accidents
• 6. Last Words

1. Motorcycle Injury Scars

Scars are due to damaged skin not fully repairing itself, the fibrous tissue stopping the bleeding but leaving visible signs of the injury. There are certain types of scars that never fade away completely without cosmetic assistance.

1.1 Motorcycle Injury Scar Types

Keloids

Keloid scars are due to excessive scar tissue growth following an accident. These kinds of scars frequently develop on the shoulders, chest, cheeks, and ears. A keloid scar may not appear until several weeks or months after your injury and may become bigger than the original wound. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, about 10% of Americans have had keloid scarring at some point in their lives. Individuals with darker skin tones are more likely to have keloid scars.

Hypertrophic Scars

Hypertrophic scars are thick raised scars like keloids; however, they do not grow as large as them. These scars are often the result of burns, piercings, or cuts. Hypertrophic scars can develop anywhere on the body.

Contracture Scars

Burn injuries cause the new skin to thicken and tighten, resulting in contracture scars. These scars may restrict movement, cause discomfort, and result in lasting pain long after when you suffered the injury. Contracture scars often occur following second and third-degree wounds.

2. Scars Caused by Road Rash

A severe road rash can leave behind serious scars due to exposed skin skidding across the road. Plastic surgery may be required to help riders regain control of movement and improve their look. Scarring due to a road rash to the face or other highly visible body parts will require reconstructive procedures.

2.1 Road Rash Degrees

Similar to burning injuries, doctors and other medical experts classify injuries due to road rash by levels of degrees depending on their severity.

First-Degree Road Rash

Road rash injuries of the first degree are minor sores that solely impact the epidermis. Following an accident, injured riders will have sensitive, reddish skin which diminishes after some time. Thankfully, these wounds usually recover fully within a short period and hardly leave behind scars.

First-degree road rash injuries usually only require medical care if they cover a considerable section. One may provide first aid at home by wiping the scratches, applying medication to the injured area, and bandaging them till they heal.

No matter how serious the injury, it’s always recommended to get medical attention immediately after a motorbike accident.

Second-Degree Road Rash

For second-degree road rash, the top skin layer is broken, resulting in the underneath layer of skin being damaged. Second-degree road rashes are open, resulting in sand, pebbles, asphalt, or dust entering the wound. Second-degree road rash injuries can result in serious, life-threatening illnesses if left untreated or treated improperly.

Riders with second-degree road rashes should seek immediate medical attention so a doctor can remove any debris stuck in their wound. These road rash injuries need to be thoroughly cleaned with iodine to ensure they are disinfected. If the sufferer hasn't gotten a tetanus injection in a while, second-degree road rash injuries may require getting one.

Third-Degree Road Rash

Third-degree road rash injuries are considered in need of intensive medical attention. The tissues underneath the dermis are subjected to friction and tearing, resulting in excessive bleeding.

Third-degree road rash injuries often result in scarring and long-term skin damage. Layers of skin peel off as a result of the scraping against the ground, exposing all of the fat and muscle tissue underneath. Moreover, the bone may be seen in severe third degree road rash lesions.

Third-degree road rash patients need emergency medical attention and will likely need reconstructive procedures, including skin grafts.

Third-degree road rashes result in wounds that require medical attention to prevent fatal infections. Additionally, this kind of road rash may leave behind scars, deformity, and nerve harm.

3. How to Treat Motorcycle Injuries & Scars?

A little bruising and scratching are inevitable when riding a two-wheeler. You may be sure that at some point you will be engaged in an accident that results in mild bruising and scarring if you ride a motorbike.

Although there isn't much you can do to totally prevent accidents, you can surely improve your motorcycle riding skills and wear appropriate safety gear to prevent serious injuries. Here is all you need to know about treating motorcycle injuries and scars.

Also Read: 5 Tips on Getting Back on Your Motorcycle After an Accident Injury

3.1 Examine the Severity of the Injury

The first thing you should do is move out of the way of incoming traffic as safely as you can or signal to other riders to assist you in doing so. As soon as you get to the side of the road, carefully remove your motorbike helmet and assess your injuries thoroughly. Focus on your injuries and worry about your motorcycle later. Do not rule out the possibility that there may be other injuries you may have not yet noticed due to the adrenaline dulling the pain.

3.2 Stop the Bleeding

Apply pressure with a handkerchief or a clean cotton fabric if you notice you are bleeding. Call for an ambulance or ask for a cab to take you to the hospital. If neither options are viable, stay calm and look for a way to go to the hospital. For such emergencies, it is generally a good idea to have an emergency contact on your phone.

3.3 Use an Antibiotic Solution

If the wound is not too serious, you do not require professional medical service and can just clean the wound with an antibiotic solution. Try to avoid touching the wound with your bare hands before cleaning them with soap and water. Ask another person to clean the wound with an antibiotic solution if you are unable to do it yourself.

3.4 Dress the Wound

Apply cotton gauze or any other clean cotton material to the wound so the wound is not exposed and prevents the risk of infection.

3.5 Visit a Physician

Do not hesitate to make an appointment with your local doctor if you think you need a professional to examine and determine the severity of your injuries or receive additional medical care. To help the doctor prescribe the appropriate treatment, you must describe the circumstances of the injury and the current symptoms you may have.

4. Tips for Minimizing Scarring After a Motorcycle Accident

Listed below are suggestions from the American Academy of Dermatology for how you can reduce scarring.

4.1 Clean the Injury Properly

Cleaning debris out of your injury will reduce the risk of infection and improve your body’s capability to heal. Gently clean your cuts with soap and water. You can ask a medical employee to clean your wounds if there is any debris difficult to remove or embedded deep.

4.2 Keep Injuries Moist

Apply petroleum jelly to the wound after cleaning it; this will stop the skin from drying out and scabbing over. Your wound will take longer to heal if there is a scab over it. A scab that comes off too soon will often leave a scar as well. Cover the wound with a bandage since petroleum jelly is highly absorbent. Another option is to use a silicone gel sheet, which works better on bigger wounds. Until the wound is completely healed, gently apply petroleum jelly each day. A deep scar may develop if you stop applying petroleum jelly too soon.

4.3 Hydrate

Drinking enough water throughout the day and abstaining from caffeine or alcohol to keep your body well hydrated. On average, the human body requires eight glasses of water every day. Examining the color of your urine will help determine if you are getting enough water. Your urine should be crystal clear and barely yellow.

5. The Cost of Scars Due to Motorcycle Accidents

Many motorcycle riders are not comfortable living with facial injuries and try to find treatment options. The typical cost of a single laser surgery treatment can range from $200 to $3,400. Scar removal often requires several laser surgery sessions, which can accumulate into expensive costs. A medical insurance provider can cover a portion of the expense if the scar is categorized as severe. The costs of scar removal will be significantly higher if you require plastic surgery. The price will vary depending on the severity of facial damage. For reconstruction, facial treatments might cost up to $100,000 or more.

Motorcycle crashes that result in disfigurement can induce depression, psychological suffering, and trauma. According to one study, researchers discovered that 80% of people who were incapacitated as a result of motorcycle accidents also suffered from scarring and related disabilities.

6. Last Words

Recovery after a motorcycle crash is usually long and challenging. Scarring due to an injury sustained in a motorcycle accident can be temporary or permanent. If you follow the treatment plans discussed above, the scarring should disappear within a few weeks. But if the injury is severe, it may require more time to heal or intensive surgery.