Scars in dermatology: Clinical significance

Abstract

1. Fine line scars: Surgical scars 2. Wide (stretched) scars: These develop when fine line surgical scars gradually become stretched and widened. They are typically flat, pale, soft, symptomless scars. Abdominal striae of pregnancy can be considered as variants of these. 3. Atrophic scars: These are flat or depressed below the surrounding skin. They are generally small and often round with an indented or inverted centre. They commonly arise after acne or chickenpox. 4. Scar contractures: Scars across joints or skin creases at right angles are prone to develop shortening or contracture. They commonly occur after burn injury across joints or skin concavities. 5. Raised skin scars: a. Hypertropic scars: These are raised scars that remain within the boundaries of the original lesion, generally regressing spontaneously after the initial injury. They are often red, inflamed, itchy, and even painful. b. Keloidal scars: These are raised skin scars that spread beyond the margins of the original wound and invade the surrounding normal skin. A keloid continues to grow over time, does not regress spontaneously and almost invariably recurs after simple excision. 6. Intermediate scar: Scars that are difficult to categorize have been termed intermediate scars. A scar is a scar is a scar and only a scar if you don’t ask why” Shelly and Shelly