Also called: Also called: Cicatrix, Keloid scar
A scar is a permanent patch of skin that grows over a wound. It forms when your body heals itself after a cut, scrape, burn or sore. You can also get scars from surgery that cuts through the skin, from infections like chickenpox, or skin conditions like acne. Scars are often thicker, as well as pinker, redder or shinier, than the rest of your skin.
How your scar looks depends on
- How big and deep your wound is
- Where it is
- How long it takes to heal
- Your age
- Your inherited tendency to scar
Scars usually fade over time but never go away completely. If the way a scar looks bothers you, various treatments might minimize it. These include surgical revision, dermabrasion, laser treatments, injections, chemical peels and creams.
- What Is a Scar(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/cosmetic_scar.html
- Dermabrasion(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) - http://www.asds.net/DermabrasionInformation.aspx
- Fading from Sight: New Advances to Minimize Surgical Scars(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/media/background/news/cosmetic_2006_03_02_fading.html
- Laser Surgery Information(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) - http://www.asds.net/LaserSurgeryInformation.aspx
- Scar Revision(American Society of Plastic Surgeons) - http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/ScarRevision.cfm
- Acne Scarring(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/scarring.html
- Everyday Wounds: Scars and Keloids(American Society of Plastic Surgeons) - http://www.plasticsurgery.org/medical_professionals/publications/everyday-wounds-ch15-scars-and-keloids.cfm
- Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology) - http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/keloids_and_hypert.html
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Answers to Common Questions about Scars(Cleft Palate Foundation) - http://www.cleftline.org/publications/scars
Also available in Spanish http://www.cleftline.org/espanol/cicatrices
- Scars and Wounds(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mbc/content/mbc_3_3X_scars_and_wounds.asp
- Before and After Photos: Treatment of Atrophic Scars(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) - http://www.asds.net/AcneScarCorrectionPhotos_AtrophicScars.aspx
- Keloid(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/keloid.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cicatrix
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cicatrix%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Scars: a review of emerging and currently available therapies. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827639&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Traction-assisted dermatogenesis by serial intermittent skin tape application. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827635&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Patterns of FDG uptake in post-thoracotomy surgical scars in patients... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18796557&tool=MedlinePlus
- Scars -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=cicatrix[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Dermasurgeon(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) - http://www.asds.net/find.aspx
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
- Find a Plastic Surgeon(American Society of Plastic Surgeons) - http://www.plasticsurgery.org/find_a_plastic_surgeon/
- American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery - http://www.asds.net/
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons - http://www.plasticsurgery.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
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Story on Scars(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/er/scars.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/seguridad/scars_esp.html
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Can Acne Scars Be Removed?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/acne_scars.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/acne_scars_esp.html
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Stretch Marks(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/beautiful/stretch_marks.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/stretch_marks_esp.html
- Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/plasticandcosmeticsurgery.html
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Scars is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/