Statistics show that one out of three households in Korea lives with pets, indicating that many people raise dogs or cats. When living with pets, it's common to experience scratches or bites. Most wounds heal within a few months, but some people are concerned about lingering scars or hyperpigmentation. Today, we will explore effective ways to treat scars and hyperpigmentation caused by pet bites or scratches.
Initial Response to Pet Scratches or Bites
When scratched by a pet cat or dog, similar to other common wounds, disinfecting with saline solution or clean running water and then applying an antibiotic ointment usually allows the wound to heal well without needing to visit a hospital.
However, if the wound is deep enough to bleed, there is a high possibility of leaving scars or hyperpigmentation. Scratches from cats, in particular, often leave long, thin incised wounds, as if cut by a knife. Because of this, they are sometimes mistaken for self-harm scars.
How to Treat Cat Scratch Scars
For long, linear scars from cat scratches, laser procedures that modify their distinctive shape to make them less noticeable are effective. At Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon, we use the panel method with the Ultrapulse Encore laser, which is excellent for scar treatment. This method divides long scars into smaller sections to make them less conspicuous and induces skin regeneration by creating microscopic wounds deep within the scar tissue with strong thermal energy.
If the wound is not too deep, receiving about 5 treatments at one to two-month intervals can make the scar area similar to normal skin, with a noticeable improvement in appearance.
Treating Hyperpigmentation and Red Marks Remaining After a Wound
Brown hyperpigmentation remaining after a wound heals can be improved to some extent with about 10 sessions of laser toning at 1-2 week intervals. Additionally, red marks can be treated with the Vbeam Prima laser to achieve satisfactory results.
Importance of Emergency Care and Hospital Visit for Dog or Cat Bites
It might be assumed that pet dogs and cats kept at home are relatively safe due to good management. However, it is generally known that dog and cat saliva contains a large number of bacteria and other microorganisms. Therefore, when bitten by a dog or cat, there are often cases where secondary infections from bacteria or viruses, or severe inflammation at the wound site, lead to serious scars such as skin necrosis.
Especially if bitten by a dog or cat, it is advisable to first clean the bitten area thoroughly with running water and then visit the emergency room for a check-up.
If the dog has completed all vaccinations, there may not be a major problem, but if the dog has not been vaccinated or the vaccination status is uncertain, necessary vaccines such as rabies vaccine or antitoxin treatment may be required. It is important to check for potential infections or skin conditions in the emergency room and receive appropriate treatment.
If, unfortunately, a scar remains even after appropriate treatment, it is advisable to visit a dermatology clinic for scar treatment.
Pet Bite Scar Treatment Methods
Scars from pet bites can appear on various parts of the body, but it's common for them to occur on the hands during play or on areas like the cheeks when leaning in to show affection. The patterns of pet bite scars can be broadly divided into two types, and the treatment methods vary accordingly.
- Scars that appear red and raised in the early stages as the bitten area heals: In this case, it is best to prevent scars early with a laser such as the Vbeam Prima laser. If this period is missed and a white scar remains, the panel method using the Ultrapulse Encore laser can induce skin regeneration, leading to an improvement in color similar to normal skin.
- Deeply bitten scars where skin tissue is lost or depressed due to skin necrosis: For deeply depressed scars, Subcision to sever the fibrous cords pulling down the skin and scar fillers to fill the depressed area are effective. Additionally, methods that induce skin regeneration with fractional lasers such as the Ultrapulse Encore laser are also available.
We have discussed effective ways to treat scars caused by pet scratches or bites through dermatological treatment. While it is most important to be careful to prevent scars or hyperpigmentation from pets, please remember that once a wound or scar occurs, noticeable improvement can be expected with the most appropriate treatment for its shape and depth. For further inquiries, please leave a comment below or contact Yonsei Star Dermatology's Kakao Channel.