Scar | Keloid Scar | MedlinePlus

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itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a> → <meta itemprop="position" content="1"/> </div> <div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Health Topics</span></a> → <meta itemprop="position" content="2"/> </div> <div> <span>Scars</span> </div> </div> </div> <span class="page-url print-only">URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/scars.html</span> <div id="topic"> <article> <div class="page-info"> <div class="page-title syndicate"> <a id="start" name="start"></a> <h1 itemprop="name" class="with-also"> Scars </h1> <span class="alsocalled">Also called: Cicatrix, Keloid scar</span> </div> <div class="page-actions"></div> </div> <div class="main"> <section id="toc-section"> <div id="table-of-contents"> <span class="toc-label">On this page</span> <div class="toccolumn"> <h3>Basics</h3> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a title="Go to: Summary" href="#summary">Summary</a> </li> <li> <a title="Go to: Start Here" href="#cat_51">Start Here</a> </li> <li> <a title="Go to: Treatments and Therapies" href="#cat_78">Treatments and Therapies</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="toccolumn"> <h3>Learn More</h3> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a title="Go to: Related Issues" href="#cat_47">Related Issues</a> </li> <li> <a title="Go to: Specifics" href="#cat_42">Specifics</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p class="evencols clearsection hrdividor"></p> <div class="toccolumn"> <h3>See, Play and Learn</h3> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a title="Go to: Images" href="#cat_80">Images</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p class="threecols clearsection hrdividor"></p> <div class="toccolumn"> <h3>Research</h3> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a title="Go to: Clinical Trials" href="#cat_27">Clinical Trials</a> </li> <li> <a title="Go to: Journal Articles" href="#cat_59">Journal Articles</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p class="evencols clearsection hrdividor"></p> <div class="toccolumn"> <h3>Resources</h3> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a title="Go to: Find an Expert" href="#cat_83">Find an Expert</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="toccolumn"> <h3>For You</h3> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a title="Go to: Children" href="#cat_8">Children</a> </li> <li> <a title="Go to: Teenagers" href="#cat_24">Teenagers</a> </li> <li> <a title="Go to: Patient Handouts" href="#cat_69">Patient Handouts</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="summary"></a> <section id="topsum_section"> <div class="summary-title syndicate"> <h2>Summary</h2> </div> <div id="topic-summary" class="syndicate"><p>A scar is a permanent patch of skin that grows over a <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/woundsandinjuries.html">wound</a>. 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, infections like chickenpox, or skin conditions like <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/acne.html">acne</a>. Scars are often thicker, as well as pinker, redder, or shinier, than the rest of your skin. </p> <p>How your scar looks depends on:</p><ul> <li>How big and deep your wound is</li> <li>Where it is </li> <li>How long it takes to heal </li> <li>Your age</li> <li>Your inherited tendency to scar</li> </ul> <p>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. </p></div> </section> <a name="cat_51"></a> <section id="cat_51_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header expanded"> <div class="section-title syndicate"> <h2>Start Here </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section51" class="section-body expanded syndicate" aria-expanded="true"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-conditions/scars" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="111465" >Scars</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)</span> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_78"></a> <section id="cat_78_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Treatments and Therapies </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section78" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/chemical-peels" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="7415" >Chemical Peels</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/dermabrasion" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="7416" >Dermabrasion</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/laser-resurfacing" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="7420" >Laser Resurfacing</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/wound-care-minimize-scars?NoAds" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="118851" >Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Academy of Dermatology)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100098_1.htm" data-sid="98038" >Scar revision - series</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/esp_presentations/100098_1.htm" data-sid="97995">Spanish</a> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.aafprs.org/Consumers/Procedures/FacialRejuvenation/Scar/A/FR11.aspx" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="29054" >Scar Revision: Understanding Facial Scar Treatment</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100101_1.htm" data-sid="98037" >Skin smoothing surgery - series</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/esp_presentations/100101_1.htm" data-sid="97994">Spanish</a> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_47"></a> <section id="cat_47_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Related Issues </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section47" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/hair-skin-nails/scars-and-wounds.html" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="50369" >Scars and Wounds</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Cancer Society)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.cancer.org/es/cancer/como-sobrellevar-el-cancer/efectos-secundarios/piel-cabello-unas/cicatrices-y-heridas.html" data-sid="100286">Spanish</a> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_42"></a> <section id="cat_42_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Specifics </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section42" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/scars?NoAds" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="114327" >Acne Scars: Overview</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Academy of Dermatology)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://familydoctor.org/condition/keloids/?adfree=true" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="104354" >Keloids</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Academy of Family Physicians)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.aocd.org/page/KeloidsAndHypertroph?" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="43270" >Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)</span> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_80"></a> <section id="cat_80_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Images </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section80" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-conditions/acne-scars" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="39792" >Before and After Photos: Treatment of Hypertrophic Scars</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://skinsight.com/skin-conditions/keloid/?Imiw9cApl=1" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="66720" >Keloid</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (VisualDX)</span> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_27"></a> <section id="cat_27_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Clinical Trials </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section27" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=%22Cicatrix%22&aggFilters=status:not%20rec" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="39735" data-org="NIH">ClinicalTrials.gov: Cicatrix</a> <span class="desc-text"> <img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc"> <span class="orgs"> (National Institutes of Health)</span> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_59"></a> <section id="cat_59_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Journal Articles <span class="subheading">References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)</span> </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section59" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39817790" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="39782" >Article: The Role of Fractional Radiofrequency in Long-term Acne Remission and Reduction...</a> <span class="desc-text"> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39812340" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="39782" >Article: An Exploratory Study of PN HPT for Treating Postsurgical Atrophic and...</a> <span class="desc-text"> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39810082" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="39782" >Article: Risk factors associated with the failure of local methotrexate combined with...</a> <span class="desc-text"> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22Cicatrix%22%5Bmajr%3Anoexp%5D+AND+humans%5Bmh%5D+AND+english%5Bla%5D+AND+%22last+1+Year%22+%5Bedat%5D+NOT+%28letter%5Bpt%5D+OR+case+reports%5Bpt%5D+OR+editorial%5Bpt%5D+OR+comment%5Bpt%5D%29+AND+free+full+text%5Bsb%5D+" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="39782" >Scars -- see more articles</a> <span class="desc-text"> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_83"></a> <section id="cat_83_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Find an Expert </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section83" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://www.aad.org/?NoAds" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="1233" >American Academy of Dermatology</a> <span class="desc-text"> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.asds.net/" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="7267" >American Society for Dermatologic Surgery</a> <span class="desc-text"> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.asds.net/find-a-dermatologic-surgeon/advanced/true" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="21179" >Find a Dermatologic Surgeon</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://find-a-derm.aad.org/" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="11635" >Find a Dermatologist</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (American Academy of Dermatology)</span> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.niams.nih.gov/" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="846" data-org="NIAMS">National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases</a> <span class="desc-text"> <img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc"> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.niams.nih.gov/es/portal-en-espanol" data-sid="44038">Spanish</a> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_8"></a> <section id="cat_8_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Children </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section8" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/scars.html" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="39786" >Scars (for Kids)</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Nemours Foundation)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://kidshealth.org/es/kids/scars.html" data-sid="72912">Spanish</a> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_24"></a> <section id="cat_24_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Teenagers </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section24" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/acne-scars.html" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="27935" >Can Acne Scars Be Removed?</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Nemours Foundation)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://kidshealth.org/es/teens/acne-scars.html" data-sid="36874">Spanish</a> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/stretch-marks.html" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="61832" >Stretch Marks</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Nemours Foundation)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://kidshealth.org/es/teens/stretch-marks.html" data-sid="62780">Spanish</a> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <a name="cat_69"></a> <section id="cat_69_section"> <div class="section"> <div class="section-header"> <div class="section-title"> <h2>Patient Handouts </h2> </div> <div class="section-button"> <button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit"> <span class="icon icon-section-action"></span> </button> </div> <div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div> </div> <div id="section69" class="section-body"> <ul class="bulletlist"> <li> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002987.htm" data-sid="82927" >Dermabrasion</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/002987.htm" data-sid="54380">Spanish</a> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000849.htm" data-sid="81531" >Keloids</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000849.htm" data-sid="54379">Spanish</a> </span> </li> <li> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002991.htm" data-sid="82931" >Scar revision</a> <span class="desc-text"> <span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span> </span> <span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/002991.htm" data-sid="50608">Spanish</a> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="side"> <aside> <section id="ht-img-section"> <div class="side-section"> <div class="section-header hide-offscreen"> <h2>Topic Image</h2> </div> <div class="section-body no-header"> <img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/Scars.jpg" title="Scars" alt="Scars" /> </div> </div> </section> <section id="encyclopedia-box"> <div class="side-section"> <div class="section-header red"> <h2>MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA</h2> </div> <div id="more_encyclopedia" class="section-body"> <ul> <li><a data-sid="82927" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002987.htm">Dermabrasion</a></li> <li><a data-sid="81531" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000849.htm">Keloids</a></li> <li><a data-sid="82931" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002991.htm">Scar revision</a></li> <li><a data-sid="98038" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100098_1.htm">Scar revision - series</a></li> <li><a data-sid="98037" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100101_1.htm">Skin smoothing surgery - series</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <section id="related-topics"> <div class="side-section"> <div class="section-header"> <h2>Related Health Topics</h2> </div> <div class="section-body"> <ul id="related"> <li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/plasticandcosmeticsurgery.html">Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </section> <section id="primary-institute-section"> <div class="side-section"> <div class="section-header"> <h2>National Institutes of Health</h2> </div> <div class="section-body"> The primary NIH organization for research on <span class="italic">Scars</span> is the <a href="http://www.niams.nih.gov/" target="TheNewWin">National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases</a> </div> </div> </section> <section> <div class="side-section"> <div class="section-header hide-offscreen"> <h2>Disclaimers</h2> </div> <div class="section-body no-header"> MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/disclaimers.html">disclaimer</a> about external links and our <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/criteria.html">quality guidelines</a>. </div> </div> </section> </aside> </div> <div class="page-action-bottom"> <div class="page-actions"></div> </div> </article> </div> <p>The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. 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It forms as your body heals itself. Learn about types, including keloids, and treatments.", "mainContentOfPage": "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, 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. \u000A\u000AHow your scar looks depends on:\u000AHow big and deep your wound is\u000AWhere it is \u000AHow long it takes to heal \u000AYour age\u000AYour inherited tendency to scar\u000A\u000AScars 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. 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Scar | Keloid Scar | MedlinePlus