A scar is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. Scars result from the biological process of wound repair in the skin.

All scarring is composed of the same collagen as the tissue it has replaced, but the composition of the scar tissue, compared to the normal tissue, is different.  Scar tissue also lacks elasticity, unlike normal tissue which distributes fibre elasticity.

What Causes Scars and Scarring?

Any damage or cut to the skin has the potential to result in scarring. Scars can be a variety of shapes and sizes, and some may be barely visible after a bit of time. 

Acne scars are a specific type of scarring that results from acne either on the face or body. Other scars may form from surgical procedures, illnesses (such as chickenpox), or an accident. Scars might appear anywhere on the body. 

Repetitive injury to one area, like the repeated skinning of a knee or picking at a scab, is more likely to result in scarring due to the recurring damage done to the skin. Likewise, some skin types are simply more prone to scarring than others.

The Problem With Scars

Assuming the original injury, illness, or affliction has healed properly, scars are just reminders of an injury and not indicative of a new one. Most clients we receive who want treatment for scars simply want to remove either a particularly bad scar or a prominent one on an area of the body well exposed.