There are two types of scars that are the consequence of the body over-synthesizing collagen. This process causes the scar to be raised above the surrounding skin. The hypertrophic scar does not grow beyond the original lesion, improving its look over time, and looks like a red lump on the skin. The keloid scar, on the other hand, grows without stopping and can become a large benign tumor.

Hypertrophic and keloid scars are both common on young and darker skinned persons. Some have a genetic predisposition to these scars, but anyone can get them. They can be caused by surgery, an accident, or sometimes by acne. Oddly, keloid scars form on some people spontaneously.

Keloid scars are not harmful or contagious, they are just accumulations of collagen, and very ugly. They tend to be found on the shoulders and chest. They are also common on people of Asian and African heritage.

Alternately, a scar can take the shape of a sunken recess in the skin, which has a pitted look. This happens when fat or muscle under the skin is lost. Commonly associated with acne, this type of scarring can also be caused by an accident or surgery. A strong acne treatment gel with regenerative effects can be used to treat this type of acne scar.

Stretched skin is another type of scarring. Pregnancy and teen growth spurts cause this type of scarring because of the fast growing cells underneath the skin. This type of scar commonly improves in appearance after a few years.

Treatments for Scars

You can never rid yourself totally of a scar. They will always leave a trace, but their look can be improved through a number of means.

Simple Treatments

There has been some support for vitamin E as a way to reduce scarring by eating it, taking supplements and applying it to the skin directly. Sources of vitamin E include nuts, eggs, wheat germ, vegetable oils and green vegetables.

However, some people have found themselves to be allergic to vitamin E, and one study stated that vitamin E did not reduce the size, color or shape of scars in its research. (Source: Baumann, Dermatologic Surgery, 1999).

Surgery

Any surgical scar elimination will always leave a new scar that will take up to two years to stabilize. The surgeon cannot eliminate a scar but they can change its look a bit.

Sometimes the surgery can make a scar even bigger, but look differently. At times when a scar restricts movement on a joint, surgery can be performed but it will yield a new scar.

Hypertrophic scars and keloid scars are not recommended for surgery because more severe scarring can occur.

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