What makes wounds scar

You should go to an emergency room without delay. Once as scar has formed, are you stuck with it? Not necessarily. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons can do a lot to minimize scars and help you feel better about your appearance. Bonus: Some of these treatments can also address itching and pain associated with severe scars. Here are some of the therapies available.

You may need multiple or repeated treatments to get the results you and your doctor want. For the best chance of getting the results you want, choose a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with experience in minimizing scars, and be clear about what you hope to accomplish from the treatment.

If you have a scar — large or small — or even an old one, there are more possibilities than ever before for minimizing its appearance. Health Home Wellness and Prevention. When you get a cut, scrape or burn, your body immediately responds with a series of steps to heal itself: The first stage is hemostasis.

The body prevents blood loss by sending platelets to the site, which bind together and seal the wound, forming a scab. Next comes inflammation. White blood cells arrive at the area to fight off bacteria. You may notice redness, swelling, heat and pain. This is a natural part of the healing process and resolves on its own unless infection takes over.

More inflammation in the healing process can mean a greater chance of scarring. As the blisters heal, scars often appear. Another skin disease, hidradenitis suppurativa , can cause deep wounds in the skin. As these wounds heal, scars appear. If a type of scar called a keloid runs in your family, you may develop these raised scars easily. Some people develop a keloid after having their ears pierced or getting a tattoo.

A scar forms on your skin when your body heals an injury. To get a scar, the wound has to go deep enough to injure the inner layers of your skin, the dermis. When we injure the deeper layers of our skin, cells make collagen to repair the wound. The thicker, less flexible tissue is a scar.

Tziotzios C, Profyris C, et al. Strategies to reduce scar formation after dermatologic procedures. This can lead to depression. See a GP if you feel your scars are making you depressed, or if they're affecting your daily activities.

Read more about living with facial disfigurement and improving self-esteem. A number of support groups and organisations provide help and advice for people living with scarring. When the skin is wounded, the tissues break, which causes a protein called collagen to be released.

Collagen builds up where the tissue is damaged, helping to heal and strengthen the wound. New collagen continues forming for several months and the blood supply increases, causing the scar to become raised and lumpy. In time, some collagen breaks down at the site of the wound and the blood supply reduces.

The scar gradually becomes smoother and softer. Although scars are permanent, they can fade over a period of up to 2 years. It's unlikely they'll fade any more after this time. Stretch marks are narrow streaks or lines that appear on the skin's surface when the deeper layer of skin dermis tears. They're often caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy or puberty , or as a result of bodybuilding or hormone replacement therapy.

Page last reviewed: 23 October Next review due: 23 October Overview - Scars Contents Overview Treatment. A scar is a mark left on the skin after a wound or injury has healed.