Types of Scars

Scars are produced as the end result of wound healing. Instead of replacing damaged tissue with regenerated identical tissue, humans and most animals heal wounds by filling the wound with scar. In theory, this allows faster yet less perfect wound healing. However, today most people would rather their wounds heal without scarring, even if this requires more time.

Scars can be limiting and disfiguring, particularly when the injury is extensive. The amount of scar produced is a consequence of many factors including: the extent of traumatized tissue around the wound, how long the wound remains open, the anatomic location, and genetically determined healing factors. When more scar forms than is desirable, the scar is considered hypertrophic. Initial rapid growth, then gradual fading and shrinkage characterize hypertrophic scars over several years. This often leads to widened, unattractive skin defects.

 Some individuals have a genetically inherited disease characterized by extreme excess scar production. These scars are called keloid scars. Keloid scars are very different than hypertrophic scars, although they do share some common features. Keloid scars tend to become much larger than the original wound. They usually persist and reoccur after surgical excision.