Type of Scars - Identify your Scar
Everyone has a different opinion to what a scar is. Some people consider their scar a sign of having lived life to the fullest. They wear it with pride, unlike others that prefer to keep their scars to themselves. But no matter what they or others believe about scars, there is an undeniable truth- a scar is the body's way of protecting itself from further damage.
A scar can appear as early as childhood. Unquestionably, children are very vulnerable to scarring owing to epidermal and dermal layers that tend to overcompensate for an injury. A study done in 2008 showed that there was a noticeable increase in the rate of scarring as we aged.
Not all scars are the same. That's why each scar falls into a different category. Here is a helpful list explaining the different types of scars that may affect you:
*Childhood scars: These scars appear during younger years due to childhood incidents such as fall off the monkey bars or off their bike, etc. This type of scar is particularly different from adult scars because they will change as the child's body grows.
*Acne scars: If you've had severe acne breakouts then you are likely to have a scar to prove it. The types of acne scars that may result from an acne breakout are varied. There are ice pick scars, rolling scars, atrophic scars, boxcar scars, and hypertrophic or keloid scars.
*Hypertrophic scars: A type of raised scar that is very similar in appearance to keloid scars.
*Keloid scar: A result of an overly aggressive healing process that results in scarring and is most commonly seen on black-skinned individuals.
*Contracture scars: This type of scar is caused by burns. That is why it is directly associated to burn victims and requires a very special type of treatment. In severe cases a contracture scar may go as deep as muscles and nerves. Children are especially susceptible and a high percent of the total burn cases in the US.
Everyday more and more people are in search of effect treatments for scar removal. These types of treatments may vary from gentle home exfoliation to artificial skin removal treatments such as surgical scar removal. The type of scar treatment you need will depend on the type of scar you have, the age of the scar, and your own immune system.
Published July 6th, 2009
Filed in Health