Medical Information
What Are Scar-Related Conditions?
Scar-related conditions refer to changes in the skin that occur after an injury, surgery, acne, burns, or other skin trauma. While scars are part of the body's natural healing process, they can sometimes be raised, thickened, sunken, discoloured, or cause discomfort. Some scars improve over time, but others require medical treatment to reduce their visibility and restore skin texture.
Medical Definition
A scar is a fibrous tissue formation that replaces normal skin after injury to the dermis. Scar morphology depends on wound depth, healing response, and factors such as skin type and location.
- Types of scars: hypertrophic scars, keloids, atrophic scars, contractures, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
- It can cause cosmetic concerns, itching, tenderness, or movement restriction.
- Risk factors include genetics, wound infection, tension on the healing skin, and delayed wound healing.
- Some scars worsen over time (e.g., keloids), while others fade naturally.
- The treatment approach depends on the type of scar, age, location, and symptoms.
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