Red or Dark Scars
Understanding scar colour
Why scars can look red, pink or darker than the surrounding skin, and what may help the colour settle.
Why scars change colour
A new scar is often red or pink because of the extra blood vessels that form as it heals. Over time these settle and the redness usually fades. In darker skin a scar may instead become darker than the surrounding skin (hyperpigmented), and occasionally a scar can look paler.
How colour settles over time
Most colour change is part of normal maturing and improves over many months. Redness can take up to two years to fully settle, so a scar’s early colour is not its final colour.
What may help
Protecting a scar from the sun makes a real difference: keep it covered and use a high-factor sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) for at least a year, as sun exposure can make discolouration more noticeable. Silicone may help a red scar settle, and in selected cases laser treatment may help improve redness or discolouration. Your surgeon can advise.
When to seek advice
If a scar stays very red or dark well beyond the normal healing period, or the colour is a concern, it can be assessed.
This information is for general guidance only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified clinician. Reviewed against NHS guidance.
