Home  |  Accessibility

	Menu  > Scar facts What is a scar? Scar therapies Psychology of scars Useful addresses Taking action		There are lots of different causes of scarring - accidents, surgery, skin disease, burns, acne, infection and crime - but not all scars are the same. Below are some of the different types of scars that occur. Flat, Pale Scars These are the most common type of scar and are a result of the body's natural healing process. Initially, they may be red or dark and raised after the wound has healed but will become paler and flatter naturally over time, resulting in a flat, pale scar. This process can take up to two years and there will always be some visible evidence of the original wound. Hypertrophic Scars (Red or Dark and Raised) When a normal wound heals the body produces new collagen fibres at a rate which balances the breakdown of old collagen. Hypertrophic scars are red and thick and may be itchy or painful. They do not extend beyond the boundary of the original wound but may continue to thicken for up to 6 months. They usually improve over the next one to two years but may cause distress due to their appearance or the intensity of the itching, also restricting movement if they are located close to a joint. Hypertrophic scars are more common in the young and people with darker skin. Some people have an inherited tendency to this type of scarring. It is not possible to completely prevent hypertrophic scars, so anyone who has suffered one should inform their doctor or surgeon if they need to have surgery. Scar Therapies are available which may speed up the process of change from a hypertrophic scar to a flatter, paler one. Keloid Scars (Red or Dark and Raised) Like hypertrophic scars, keloids are the result of an imbalance in the production of collagen in a healing wound. Unlike hypertrophic scars, keloids grow beyond the boundary of the original wound. They can continue to grow indefinitely. They may be itchy or painful and may not improve in appearance over time. Keloid scars can result from any type of injury to the skin, including scratches, injections, insect bites and tattoos. Anybody can get a keloid scar and they can occur anywhere on the body. However, the young and people with darker skin are more prone to this type of scarring and they are more common on certain parts of the body e.g. ears, chest, shoulders and back. As with hypertrophic scarring, people who have developed one keloid scar are likely to be prone to this condition in the future and should alert their doctor or surgeon if they are likely to need injections or to have any form of surgery. Sunken Scars Sunken scars are recessed into the skin. They may be due to the skin being attached to deeper structures (such as muscles) or to loss of underlying fat. They are usually the result of an injury. Acne & Chicken Pox Scars A common cause of sunken scarring is acne or chicken pox which can result in a pitted appearance. However, it is important to note that acne scarring is not always sunken in appearance and can even become keloid. Stretched Scars Stretched scars occur when the skin around a healing wound is put under tension during the healing process. This type of scarring may follow injury or surgery. Initially, the scar may appear normal but can widen and thin over a period of weeks or months. This can occur where the skin is close to a joint and is stretched during movement or may be due to poor healing due to general ill health or malnutrition. Stretch Marks Stretch marks develop when the skin is stretched rapidly, for example during pregnancy or the adolescent growth spurt. Initially, stretch marks appear red but become paler over a number of years.

This information is intended for healthcare professionals only Smith & Nephew Wound Management Site Disclaimer, Copyright & Accessibility notice - Smith & Nephew Corporate Site