Scars & Stretch Marks

When your skin is damaged, it grows new tissue and closes the wound, which may form a scar. Minor injuries may heal without any visible signs over time, but more significant trauma to the skin often leaves a lasting scar. Common causes of scars include injuries, surgery, and acne or other skin conditions. 

The type of scar that develops from skin trauma depends on several factors. The type of injury, your skin’s condition, how the wound was cared for, and more can affect the resulting scar’s appearance. There are five main types of scars: flat, raised, depressed, keloid, and contracture.

• Flat: Though the scar may start out slightly raised, it eventually becomes flat. It typically starts reddish and eventually becomes slightly lighter or darker than your surrounding skin. Flat scars are more likely with proper wound care.

• Raised (hypertrophic): These scars are firm and rise slightly above the surface of your skin. They most often form on the chest, back, or shoulders. Raised scars typically shrink with time but never become fully flat.

• Depressed (atrophic): Acne often leads to depressed scars, also called ice-pick scars. Acne scars are often slightly sunken and look like small pits or indentations in the skin.

• Keloid: Keloids are raised scars that grow larger than the wounded area. They are often painful and itchy. You can be genetically predisposed to form keloids, and certain skin types are more likely to develop keloid scars.

Contracture: When the new tissue that forms to close a wound is too tight, it forms a contracture scar. These are most common with burn wounds. Large or severe contracture scars can restrict movement.