A scar is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal tissue as part of the body’s healing process after significant injury or damage.
Scars form when the skin or another tissue is damaged deeply enough that it cannot regenerate completely. Instead, the body repairs the area by producing collagen, creating tissue that may differ from the surrounding skin in colour, texture, thickness, or flexibility.
Scars can result from many causes, including:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Burns
- Surgical procedures
- Acne and other skin conditions
- Infections
- Trauma
- Inflammatory diseases
Most scars become less noticeable over time, although some remain permanent. Depending on how they heal, scars may be flat, raised, depressed, or extend beyond the original wound.
QUICK FACT
- Scarring is a normal part of healing. A visible scar does not necessarily mean that a wound healed poorly.
- Some scars can affect appearance, movement, or organ function. If a scar is painful, enlarging, restricts movement, or causes significant cosmetic or psychological concerns, medical assessment may be helpful.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): darkening of the skin after inflammation without necessarily causing structural tissue loss.
- Post-inflammatory erythema: persistent redness after inflammation, particularly noticeable in lighter skin tones.
SEE ALSO
- Wound
- Wound Healing
- Collagen
- Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
- Acne Vulgaris
- Burn
