The Features of Scars: What Causes Scar Discoloration, Raised Scars, & More

While some people cherish their scars as a reminder of their past, the majority of us don’t love the look that scar tissue brings to our appearance. Luckily, the appearance of scars naturally diminishes over time一 but there are also ways that you can speed up this process.

Have you ever seen the wide variety of differences that exist among different people’s scars? Some scars are flat and smooth, while some are depressed and indented. Many are the same color as the surrounding skin, while others are lighter or darker and stand out. This is because the scarring process happens differently for each individual, and differently for each wound that you get. Let’s explore some of the most common features.

You can never truly get rid of scars一 scars are a natural part of the healing process, and some scar tissue will always be left behind. You can, however, follow certain guidelines and use products to decrease the appearance of your scar.

Raised scars occur most frequently when the skin under reconstruction is pulled too tightly. When the skin is stretched, more scar tissue must be produced in order to fill the gaps. This scar tissue tends to grow above the surrounding skin. 

This can result in two different types of raised scars: hypertrophic and keloids. The easiest way to tell this difference is that keloids are usually more mangled, thicker, and disorderly. Hypertrophic scars, however, are usually rigid and organized.

Despite these differences, treatment methods for hypertrophic scars and keloid scars are generally pretty similar, both dramatically improving appearance with the help of silicone-based products. Silicone is infamous in scar treatment for its ability to halt water loss and reduce collagen production, something that stops the growth process in keloid scars and helps results in a softer, flatter scar over time.

These types of scars are generally caused by puncture wounds or surgical scars that were closed poorly. Acne scars tend to stay pitted and depressed, as well. While these scars can sometimes be treated with injectable fillers or fat transfers, products like silicone scar sheeting after a surgical procedure can help prevent them from forming in the first place!

As for acne scars, your best bet is a nice silicone scar gel. Our RejuvaSil Silicone Scar Gel dries clear and odorless, so it's great for highly visible areas. It's gentle, soft formula is good for sensitive skin and doesn't clog pores.

When there is no topographical, raised, or depressed scarring, reducing a scar's appearance is quite simple. Products containing silicone and silicone sheets are great options for patients who want their surgical incisions or wounds to heal as well as possible.

So what causes scar discoloration? Usually it’s an indication at the healing stage your scar is in. For example, the newer a scar is, the more reddish-purple it is. This discoloration occurs during the first few stages of wound healing: clotting, inflammation, and cell replication. The dark red hue you notice during the initial stages of wound healing is due to the body supplying more blood to the wound; this excess blood helps to heal the incision or injury faster.

Once the scar tissue has been added to bridge any gaps in the incision, your scar will be a light red or pink color. Over time, this will fade to your normal skin color; however, you can speed this process up with products like our Scar Esthetique Scar Cream.

Regardless of your scar type or the original reason for the development of your scar, you deserve the best-looking skin you can get. Here at Rejuvaskin, we’ve selected the best, most reliable ingredients for our scar care lineup. Do you have a surgery coming up? Make sure to stock up on your scar products!