You’re biking along on your way back from work; it’s just rained and the ground is a bit slippery. You’re being as careful as possible, but near your home, a small child runs out of nowhere and into your path; you brake and swerve! You don’t hit the child, but you fall off your bike, and get a nasty gash on your cheek; you knew you should have bought a different helmet! Weeks pass, and the gash heals, but you’re left with a scar; but what is it, and why does it form?
Simply put, scars are a natural part of the healing process. They occur every time you are wounded, unless it was just a scratch. Scars are formed from the same stuff that makes up your skin – collagen. The difference is that the fibers in your skin are woven together in many different directions, whereas the collagen in a scar is all woven in the same direction, which is why they are so noticeable compared to the rest of your skin; they stand out.
Though all scars are made up of the same fibers, there are several different types, depending on the wound. They are:
-Hypertrophic scars occur when the body overproduces collagen; as a result, they are raised above the rest of the skin. These scars don’t go beyond the boundary of the original wound, and are quite common.
-Keloids are similar to hypertrophic scars, but the collagen overproduction goes beyond the original wound. Keloids are particularly problematic; expanding past the boundaries of the wound can cause tightness and discomfort in the surrounding area, as well as limiting range of movement.
-Atrophic scarring is the opposite of hypertrophic, in a sense; these scars occur when the fat or muscle beneath the scar has been lost; the scar then appears below the rest of the skin, creating a pit in the affected area.
-Stretch marks are scars, caused by the skin stretching rapidly during pregnancy, adolescence or periods of weight gain.
-Your belly button is a scar left by the removal of the umbilical cord!
Scarring, while a natural process, can cause a lot of problems. The most obvious is cosmetic; when you have a scar on your face or another visible part of your body, it can make going out uncomfortable; this could result in a poor social life, which is bad for your health. Scars can also be tight and painful, decreasing mobility and reducing your quality of life.
Fortunately, treatment of scars has become more than feasible with our advanced medical technology; get in contact with us for facial scar removal, and we’ll take care of that memory from the time you almost hit a kid with your bike.
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