What does scarring mean

Scars usually fade over time. Makeup can help cover the scar while it is healing. Some scars can be minimized by certain dermatological techniques. However, treatment can only improve the appearance of a scar; it cannot completely erase it. Dermabrasion may be used to minimize small scars, minor skin surface irregularities, surgical scars, and acne scars. As the name implies, dermabrasion involves removing the top layers of skin with an electrical machine that abrades the skin.

As the skin heals from the procedure, the surface appears smoother and fresher. Chemical peels. Chemical peels are often used to minimize sun-damaged skin, irregular color pigment , and superficial scars. The top layer of skin is removed with a chemical application to the skin.

By removing the top layer, the skin regenerates, often improving the skin's appearance. Collagen injections. One type of collagen made from purified cow collagen is injected beneath the skin. It replaces the body's natural collagen that has been lost.

Injectable collagen is generally used to treat wrinkles, scars, and facial lines. There are several other types of injectable materials that can be used also. Cortisone injections. These types of injections can help soften and then shrink hard scars. Keloids and hypertrophic scars often soften after intralesional steroid injections. Cryosurgery can help reduce the size of scars by freezing the top skin layers.

The freezing causes the skin to blister. Laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing uses high-energy light to burn away damaged skin. Laser resurfacing may be used to minimize wrinkles and refine hypertrophic scars. Punch grafts. Punch grafts are small skin grafts to replace scarred skin. A hole is punched in the skin to remove the scar. Then the scar is replaced with unscarred skin often from the back of the earlobe.

Punch grafts can help treat deep acne scars. Surgical scar revision. Surgical scar revision involves removing the entire scar surgically and rejoining the skin.

A new scar will form. But the goal of this surgery is to create a less obvious scar. Surgical scar revision is usually done on wide or long scars, scars that healed in an unusual way, or scars in very visible places. Radiation therapy. This is not used often. It's used mainly for scars resistant to other treatments.

Abnormal scars sometimes form after a wound has healed. There are many different types of scars, including:. These are thick, rounded, irregular clusters of scar tissue that grow at the site of a wound on the skin, but beyond the edges of the borders of the wound. They often appear red or darker in color, as compared to the surrounding normal skin. Keloids are formed from collagen that the body produces after a wound has healed.

These scars may appear anywhere on the body. But they are more common on the chest, back, shoulders, and earlobes. They occur more often in darker-skinned people. Read More. November 08, To top. English Examples. Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:. Free word lists and quizzes from Cambridge.

Tools to create your own word lists and quizzes. Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans. Sign up now or Log in. Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Follow us. Choose a dictionary. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English.

Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English. Grammar Thesaurus. Word Lists. New Word List Word List. Save This Word! We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms. Origin of scar 1 —; Middle English; aphetic variant of eschar. Words nearby scar scapuloclavicular , scapulocostal syndrome , scapulohumeral , scapulopexy , scapus , scar , scarab , scarabaeid , scarabaeoid , scarabaeus , Scaramouch.

Words related to scar blister , crater , defect , discoloration , disfigurement , flaw , scab , wound , disfigure , injure , maim , mar , traumatize , cicatrice , cicatrix , hurt , mark , pockmark , track , beat. How to use scar in a sentence I am one of those people whose scar s are visible—both physical and emotional ones. Waxman November 10, Time. Raw Gold Bertrand W.