Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFormationTypes of ScarsSigns of ScarringCausesHow Common Are Scars?Changes Over TimeTreatmentPreventionSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Formation
Types of Scars
Signs of Scarring
Causes
How Common Are Scars?
Changes Over Time
Treatment
Prevention
Seeking Medical Care
Scars are made of fibrous tissue that forms during the wound-healing process and leaves a mark on the skin after an injury has healed.As part of the body’s natural repair mechanisms, collagen-based scar tissue replaces damaged or wounded skin.
Although minor nicks or scratches on the skin’s top layer usually won’t leave a visible scar, most wounds and surgical incisions penetrating deeper into the skin will result in some cutaneous scarring. A wound healing without scarring (i.e., scarless healing) is rare.
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How Do Scars Form?
What Are the Types of Scars?
There are many types of scars, including:
Are There Signs a Scar May Form?
Whether a scar forms depends on several factors, including:
What Causes Scars?
Anything that punctures the dermal barrier and wounds either of the two layers of skin below the epidermis—known as the dermis and hypodermis—can cause scars. Age increases the odds of a skin injury causing a scar.
Scars are extremely common. Anyone who has ever cut or injured their skin probably has at least one scar. A 2022 international study involving 11,000 people found that 22% of respondents had a fresh scar less than one year old somewhere on their skin.
Although scars rarely disappear entirely, they usually soften and fade over time. Avoiding excessive sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) light will help a scar fade faster. Newly formed scars (those less than 18 months old) are highly susceptible to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which can causehyperpigmentation(patches of skin darker than the surrounding skin).
If treated properly, scars can shrink, flatten, and smooth out over time.
Related:How to Get Rid of Scars: Medical and Natural Remedies for Old Scars
Can Scars Be Treated?
Scars can be treated. Below are some scar treatments that can be used for facial scars or cutaneous scarring on other parts of the body.
Topical Treatments
Silicone-based creams, gels, or sheets are used to treat scars, and do not require a prescription.
Related:The 9 Best Scar Creams to Fade and Smooth Unwanted Scars, Tested and Reviewed
Steroid Injections
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses low-dose X-rays as a radiation therapy for the treatment of keloid scars.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion, also called dermaplaning, resurfaces the skin with a rapidly rotating device that “sands” the outermost layer of skin. It’s used to treat different types of scars.
Filler Injections
Soft-tissue fillers can plump up the skin and make sunken atrophic scars that are depressed below the skin’s surface less noticeable. These are typically used to treat acne scars.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a nonsurgical procedure that punctures the skin with lots of tiny needles and may help improve the appearance of scars. Although some forms of microneedling can be done at home, it’s best to have a trained clinician or dermatologist perform this minimally invasive procedure due to the high risk of infections from unsterilized needles.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery, also known as cryotherapy or cryoablation, is a minimally invasive medical procedure that uses extremely cold temperatures to treat keloids and hypertrophic scars.
Surgery
Laser Treatments
How to Prevent Scars
Although it’s not always possible to prevent scars from forming after your skin has been injured, below are ways to optimize the healing process and minimize scar severity:
Overusing Hydrogen Peroxide Can Make Scars WorseHydrogen peroxide disinfects wounds and helps prevent infection. However, it also has the potential to disrupt wound repair and damage skin cells. Excessive hydrogen peroxide use during the wound-healing process can make scarring worse and lead to more noticeable scars.
Overusing Hydrogen Peroxide Can Make Scars Worse
Hydrogen peroxide disinfects wounds and helps prevent infection. However, it also has the potential to disrupt wound repair and damage skin cells. Excessive hydrogen peroxide use during the wound-healing process can make scarring worse and lead to more noticeable scars.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Contact a healthcare provider if you have any concerns about how a wound is healing or notice signs of infection, such as redness, inflammation, warmth, or pus.
Some scars restrict movement and can reduce mobility. Scars can also take a psychological toll. Speak to a healthcare provider about scar treatment options or removal if a scar is disrupting your quality of life or impacting your mental health.
Summary
Scars are a natural part of the skin’s wound-healing process. Most injuries that penetrate the dermis below the top layer of skin will leave a scar. There are many types of scars.
Keeping wounds clean, covered, and moist can reduce or prevent significant scarring. Avoid sun exposure and overusing hydrogen peroxide when your skin is healing. Scar treatments range from over-the-counter topical treatments like silicone sheets to medical procedures like steroid injections or surgical scar removal.
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