Scars are very common – most people have at least one on their body. When the skin is wounded and broken, the body produces more collagen, which is the body’s way of repairing itself.
Collagen builds up where the tissue has been damaged, helping to heal and strengthen the wound but the fiber composition of the protein is different resulting in fibrous tissue, hence the scar formation.
The different types of scars include:
- Hypertrophic scars – red, raised scars that form along a wound and can remain this way for up to five years
- Keloid Scars– caused by an excess of scar tissue produced at the site of the wound where the scar grows beyond the boundaries of the original wound, even after the wound has healed
- Pitted (atrophic or ‘ice-pick’) scars – with a sunken appearance
- Contracture scars – caused by the skin shrinking and tightening, usually after a burn, which can restrict movement
- Acne Scars – caused by intense collagen damaging skin inflammation.
