Why are some scars white and some brown?

If you have a darker skin type, scar tissue may fade to leave a brown or white mark. These are often permanent, but can sometimes improve over time. If your skin is tanned, the scar may appear more obvious as scar tissue does not tan and remains pale.

Why are my scars brown instead of white?

Hyperpigmentation refers to dark brown spots that form on the scar due to an overproduction of the skin pigment melanin. Once formed, this brown discoloration can be permanent. If you cannot avoid sun exposure, it's important to protect your scar from the sun by using a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen.

Why are some of my scars white and some dark?

Dark scars or “hyper- pigmented scars,” can be a normal part of the healing process and will naturally fade over time. This can often be hastened with good sun protection, bleaching creams, and occasionally lasers or IPL. White scars, or “hypopigmented” scars, are due to a loss of melanocytes that manufacture pigment.

Why are some scars light and some scars dark?

There are a few reasons why a scar might turn dark. For example, if a scar was exposed to sunlight during the healing process, there's a good chance the scar tissue will become pigmented. Dark scars can also be caused by inflammation, poor healing, or the genetics of your skin and how your skin heals.

Why do scars turn different colors?

There are a number of reasons why your scar might change color over time, or why some scars appear different than others. The color of a scar depends on a number of factors including wound severity, genetics, skin type, and environmental factors.

Why Do Some Scars Pit? What Causes Scar Pitting?

What are the 3 types of scars?

Do all scars turn white?

Scars can take up to a year to heal completely, with most of the process occurring out of sight. In most cases, the scar will turn from pink to white as the scar heals. The skin will also flatten out in the affected area. This happens because bodies produce scar tissue to mend the damage that has happened.

What are the 4 types of scars?

Do brown scars fade?

It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.

How long does it take for a scar to turn white?

Scars take time to settle. The lumpiness, puckering and thickening in the scar take 2-3 months to diminish, whilst the redness and pigmentation can take up to 9-12 months to fade. Most scars become flat and pale after 12 months.

Will a white scar tan?

But in the short term, since your scars cannot tan (due to the absence of pigment producing cells within the scar tissue) and your normal skin will, the scars will stand out that much more by contrast with the tanned skin.

How do I know what kind of scar I have?

A dermatologist examines your skin to determine what type of scar you have. He or she makes note of its location and size because scars may have different characteristics depending on where they are on the body.

Do scars tan differently?

Some scars will actually become darker than the surrounding skin that was sprayed. This often occurs with older scars in areas where the skin is rougher, such as the elbows, knees and knuckles, or if the scar is raised with an uneven surface or distinct edges.

Why do scars not tan?

Answer: Scars are fibrous tissue and they can't produce melanin and because they can't produce melanin, they can't tan.

What Colours are scars?

What are the signs of a scar? When a scar first develops on lighter skin, it's usually pink or red. Over time, the pinkish color fades, and the scar becomes slightly darker or lighter than the color of the skin. In people with dark skin, scars often appear as dark spots.

How long does it take for pink scars to turn white?

Scar tissue is usually red at first, then pink for 3-6 months and then fades to a slightly lighter than normal skin color. Exposure to heavy sunlight may cause a scar to heal darker. Sun avoidance and use of sunscreen over scar sites is advisable for six months after surgery.

How can I make my scars lighter?

What should a scar look like when healing?

But here is what a mature surgical scar should look like from a cosmetic point of view: a parallel disposition to the folds and lines of tension of a relaxed skin. an unnoticeable fine line. an elevation similar to the surrounding skin.

Are scars attractive?

Men with mild facial scars were typically ranked as more appealing by women who were looking for a brief relationship, though they were not considered better as marriage material, a study found. In the same experiments, women with facial scars were judged to be as attractive as those without, the researchers said.

Do scars Ever Go Away?

Mature scars can also flatten out as they go through this aging process, but it's important to note that scars will never go away completely. Even with some scar treatments, the appearance will be improved, but they will never totally disappear because the skin composition is different from the surrounding tissues.

Can massaging a scar make it worse?

If a patient massages their scar prematurely it could cause the wound to tear or reopen, risking an infection. It's therefore important to advise them to not begin massaging until the wound is fully healed.

What does an atrophic scar look like?

Atrophic scars are characterized as a sunken area on a person's skin, often looking pitted. In many cases atrophic scars are caused by collagen destruction as the result of experiencing inflammatory conditions such as acne or chickenpox. Atrophic scars can also be caused by accident, surgery or genetic disorders.

Why do some scars turn brown?

Scars typically turn brown in response to sunlight and the UV radiation found in the sunlight. Often lasers can be used to treat the hyperpigmentation in scars and reduce it.

How long does it take for a scar to fully mature?

Once there is a scar, it is forever. Generally, it will blend into the normal skin creases so that it is hardly noticeable. Most scars reach this point six months after surgery. It can take up to two years for some severe scars to fully develop.

Why is my scar white and raised?

A hypertrophic scar is a thick raised scar that's an abnormal response to wound healing. They more commonly occur in taut skin areas following skin trauma, burns or surgical incisions. Treatments include medication, freezing, injections, lasers and surgery.