Concern Scars

What are scars?

Scarring is part of the healing process. Scars form on the skin when it heals. They appear as a result of a rupture in the skin tissue, such as a wound, surgery, a burn, a pimple extraction, etc. Except for very small lesions, every wound leaves a scar. The tissue that forms to repair the skin is not identical to the surrounding skin. This tissue is usually "less functional," meaning it is more sensitive to certain factors like the sun, more rigid, and sweat glands and hair no longer develop under the scar. Moreover, as scar tissue differs from normal skin, it is also visible, which is completely normal, but it may bother some people.

What are the types of scars?

Flat or white scars are the most common; everyone has them or has had them. While they may initially appear red and/or raised, the scar usually fades over time to become nearly invisible in some cases. Even if that’s not the case, this mark is generally discreet.

Atrophic scars are those that are sunken into the skin. These scars can be hard to fade over time and often remain reddish. They are common after severe acne and chickenpox. Often, we are the ones who cause them! When we scratch pimples or pick scabs, we interrupt the healing process, leaving a mark.

Keloid scars have a raised, reddish texture that extends irregularly around the original wound, often described as having a “cauliflower” shape. These scars appear when deeper layers of skin overgrow during healing. This type is seen more often in children and dark-skinned individuals, and pregnant women may experience the worsening of these scars during pregnancy.

Stretch scars are long and slightly sunken. They occur when the skin's elasticity reaches its limit during stretching. Stretch marks are the most well-known scars of this type.

How can we prevent scars?

Of course, we need to be careful and take care of ourselves to avoid injury, to alleviate difficult skin conditions, to manage our weight, etc., but regarding scars, it's not always the solution. Most of the time, we can’t really prevent scars, because they usually occur due to causes beyond our control, such as a cut, a burn, severe acne, rapid growth spurts, etc., or as a result of necessary or desired care, like surgery or piercing. However, when skin ruptures occur, we can take care of it to minimize the scar and increase the chances it will eventually fade.