Anyone who has ever suffered a severe scar has probably wondered why the skin never looks exactly the same after the injury. What is it about the healing process that causes skin to scar? And if we do suffer a serious cut or burn, does this mean we’re stuck with imperfections on our skin for life?
Scarring is a result of your body doing exactly what it’s supposed to do—producing new tissue to replace what was damaged. When the deepest, thickest layers of your skin, known as your dermis, are damaged, your body produces a natural protein called collagen to replace the damaged tissue. This new tissue will often have a slightly different look and texture than the original tissue, and hence the appearance of scarring.
Most scars are flat and pale, but if your body has to produce a large amount of collagen to replace the damaged tissue, you could see what’s known as a hypertrophic scar, which is raised or slightly bumpy. In injuries where fat or muscle is lost, the skin will heal with sunken or indented scarring. All scarring types are normal, and the severity will depend on factors like your age, your genetics, your ethnicity, and how bad the injury was. Some scars will remain forever whereas others will fade over time.
Some treatment options are available for scarring, including surgery, which can minimize a scar’s appearance, as well as steroid injections, which can flatten raised scars. But one of the best things you can do is to take steps to minimize scarring whenever there’s a risk. While these steps won’t always prevent scarring from happening, they can ensure that scar formation is minimal and more likely to fade over time:
- No matter what type of wound you have, clean it as early as possible and keep it clean. Keep it covered with a bandage while it heals and change the bandage regularly to keep out any dirt or debris.
- Use topical applications to moisten the wound, which will stave off scabbing that could make scarring worse. Vaseline, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and Aquaphor are all moisturizing agents with anti-scarring qualities. If you skin does start to scab, do not pick at it.
- Protect your injury from sun exposure while it heals. Sunburn can alter the appearance of your skin in not only the short term but also the long term, giving any healed tissue a more severe contrast.
- Eat a diet rich in vitamins C and D, which are important for healthy skin. Get plenty of protein, which will help your body form the collagen needed to adequately regenerate new skin tissue.
