Scars can leave a visible mark on your skin at the source of injury or a wound that has healed.

While some scars can fade away and gently blend with the surrounding skin, there are scars that are markedly visible. Their color, size, shape, and location often make them stand out. Scarring usually happens when an injury or wound does not close up properly, and its natural healing process is interrupted – either due to infection or because it was strained in some way. However, scars can also happen with wounds and injuries that healed well. This can happen if the skin or tissue suffered significant trauma.

What Causes Scarring?

During an injury, the body produces collagen to provide strength to the skin structure. However, another important component, elastin, is not produced – elastin fibers provide the skin with elasticity. Without the elastin fibers, the skin grows tough, appears much thicker, and is different in color, tone, and texture from the surrounding skin.

Types of Scars

Hypertrophic scars – appear at the site of injury and are thick, raised, and present in discolored clusters.
Atrophic scars – form underneath the skin surface and give the scar a sunken appearance. Common examples are acne scars and chickenpox scars.
Keloid scars – are caused due to excessive collagen production that does not stop even after a wound has healed causing the scar to become raised.
Contracture scars – are formed by an injury that caused significant tissue trauma such as burns and joint injuries. During the healing process the skin and the tissue below contract to aid healing which in turn can limit movement.
Normotrophic scars – are subtle scars caused when the skin responds adequately to an injury. The scar usually flattens out with time.

What Factors Impact the Severity of Scarring?

A number of factors can impact the severity of scarring as well as the type of scar your body produces. These include – your age, skin color, genetics, as well as the location, size, and type of injury. As you age, the body’s ability to heal slows down. People with darker complexions are also more prone to raised scars.

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