Desensitisation
Date issued: May 2025
For review: May 2027
Ref: C-439/JT/Occupational Therapy/Desensitisation v2
PDF: Desensitisation.pdf [pdf] 143KB
Sometimes scars can become over sensitive, which can affect how you do your day-to-day activities. This leaflet explains how to “desensitise” a hypersensitive scar.
Why do I need scar desensitisation?
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Following surgery especially post-terminalisation, or injury, scars can become oversensitive, tender, or painful to touch. This is known as hypersensitivity and unfortunately does not go away by itself.
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Hypersensitivity is caused by damage to the nerve endings due to injury of the skin.
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It can be painful and feel like tingling, shooting, or burning pain, or ‘pins and needles.’
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The nerve endings in the scar continue to send pain signals to the brain after the wound has healed when there is no longer a need to protect the area.
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Not all scars are hypersensitive.
What is desensitisation?
Desensitisation is a treatment technique used to modify how sensitive an area is to stimuli (different textures and sensations). This technique is used to decrease, or normalise, the body’s response to sensations.
Desensitisation in everyday activities
If you have a hypersensitive scar, it is important to continue normal activities and not be overprotective of the sensitive area. For example:
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Use a flannel or towel to rub the sensitive area while having a bath or shower.
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When dressing, run the affected area over the different textures of your clothes
Desensitisation Techniques
For best results, carry out these techniques 3-4 times a day for approximately 10 minutes. It is important to look at the affected area whilst doing this to stimulate the brain.
Following a terminalisation of a digit it is useful to gently touch the finger when the dressing is still in situ to help prevent hypersensitivity developing.
1. Massage / Apply pressure
Once the wound has healed it is important to start touching and massaging the scar. Firmly massage the scar with unperfumed moisturiser. Massage across the scar line in circular movements using deep and firm pressure. This ensures that the scar does not stick to the underlying surface and helps the structures under the skin to move freely, as well as helping the scar to soften and flatten.
2. Texture Massage
Rub the area with various textures. Start with soft materials and work up to coarser textures. For example, cotton wool, felt, towelling, rough cloth, Velcro®.
3. Immersion
If your scar is on your hand or foot, they can be immersed in a bowl of materials including cotton wool, kidney beans, lentils, rice or pasta.
4. Percussion/Tapping
Using your hand or light object such as a pencil, lightly tap the affected area quickly for two minutes or until you notice feeling in the area changing or it starts to feel numb.
5. Vibration
Use an electric toothbrush to lightly apply vibration to the area. Start on an area that is not sensitive and gradually work towards the affected area.
These exercises may feel uncomfortable at first, but it is important to continue with them.
Over time the pain will reduce, and you will be able to experience different sensations without discomfort.
If your hypersensitivity does not improve, particularly if you are avoiding using the affected area of your body normally, please contact your clinician
