what causes a scar?
Scars are areas of fibrous tissue (fibrosis) that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound (e.g., after accident, disease, or surgery) results in some degree of scarring. An exception to this are animals with complete regeneration, which regrow tissue without scar formation.
Burn scars. Key points. First-degree burns donât usually cause scarring. Second- and third-degree burns will likely cause some scarring. Some scars may fade over time on their own. Other scars may require treatment, such as a skin graft. Youâre more likely to need treatment for scars from a third-degree burn.
Types of Acne Scars. As the wound heals, the body sometimes produces too much collagen, which creates a mass of raised tissue on the skin's surface. This type of scarring is called hypertrophic, or keloid, scarring. More commonly, acne causes atrophic, or depressed, scars. Atrophic scars develop when there is a loss of tissue. Ice pick and boxcar scars are two examples of atrophic scars. Inflammation is the single greatest gauge of scar development. The greater the inflammation on the skin, the more likely scarring is to occur.