Why do scars occur

The second thing the body does is form a blood clot. The very top layers of the clot dry out and harden to form a scab, which protects the wound from additional disturbances.

Protected from the external world, the lower portion of the clot becomes host to cells called fibroblasts , whose job in part is to replace the scab with scar tissue. But while the tissue that makes up a scar is made of the same stuff as normal skin — a protein called collagen, primarily — it looks and feels different. In other words, normal skin tissue is constructed of fibres that are oriented randomly to each other, while the very same fibres, in scar tissue, are oriented in a single direction, parallel to each other.

It's actually quite reasonable, from an evolutionary perspective. An open wound leaves the body susceptible to all sorts of problems, from intense pain to infection. So rather than slowly build skin the usual way, scars are the work of the body's rapid response team. The make-up of normal skin is very different to that found in scar tissue Credit: iStock.

Think of it this way — if you've got a hole in your roof and it's raining, it's not worth waiting for the best carpenter in town if the second-best carpenter is available. Especially if he can get the job done in half the time for half the price.

It's better to protect the body from the outside world as soon as possible, even if the handiwork is a bit sloppy. While some scars are a source of pride, others might be aesthetically displeasing. And though there aren't any methods to completely avoid scarring, there are ways to minimise their formation or appearance. For one thing, larger wounds mean larger scars.

That's why doctors so often use stitches. There are no standard scar assessment tools for researchers, and massage techniques may differ from one study to the next. Researchers need to conduct controlled, clinical trials on the effectiveness of massage for managing scar tissue.

There are several different treatments that doctors can use to prevent and treat scar tissue. However, no treatment is universally successful. Doctors have many options to choose from when treating scar tissue, but some treatments are more effective for certain types of scars.

Doctors should also address the psychological effects and movement restrictions that scars can affect some people. Doctors should make people aware of the often limited success rates of scar tissue therapy and set realistic goals with them. Scars can be unsightly and difficult to remove. Keloid scars occur when the skin overreacts to the injury, after which they grow and darken. This MNT…. Ice pick scars are small, deep scars that can develop following severe acne.

A person cannot usually treat ice pick scars at home, but a number of…. Treating burn scars depends on the severity of the burn and how recently it occurred. The article examines the various types of burn scars, how to….

Hypertrophic scars are raised, red scars that occur due to collagen imbalance at the location of an injury. When a person's body expands rapidly, such as when they are pregnant or bodybuilding, they can develop stretch marks on their skin. Stretch marks can…. What to know about scar tissue Medically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M. Causes and prevention Treatment Does massage help? Takeaway When a person has an injury, the body responds by repairing the damaged tissue, which creates scar tissue.

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Tips for treating and reducing hypertrophic scars. What are the treatments and home remedies for stretch marks?

While scars can be disfiguring physically, psychologically or both, significant itching and burning can also accompany hypertrophic scars and keloids. Scars form when the dermis--the deep, thick layer of skin--is damaged. The body forms new collagen fibers to mend the damage, resulting in a scar. The new scar tissue will have a different texture and quality than the surrounding tissue.

Scars typically form after a wound is completely healed. There are a variety of different kinds of scars, but most are flat and pale. However, in cases when the body produces too much collagen, scars can be raised.