Understanding Scars
How scars form and heal
Understand how scars form, the stages of healing, how long they take to mature and what affects a scar's final appearance.
What is a scar?
A scar is a normal part of healing. When the skin is injured or cut during surgery, the body repairs it by forming new collagen, which creates a scar. Every surgical procedure that cuts the skin leaves a scar; the aim is to help it heal as neatly as possible.
Why scars form
Scars form as the body’s natural response to repair a wound. The appearance of the final scar depends on many things, including the type of surgery, its position on the body, tension across the wound, your age and your skin type.
The stages of scar healing
Healing moves through overlapping stages: early healing as the wound closes; an inflammatory red or pink stage as new blood vessels form; and a remodelling stage where the scar gradually softens, flattens and fades.
How long scars take to mature
Most scars take up to two years to reach their final appearance. A new scar often looks red, firm or raised at first and softens over the following months. Significant further fading is unlikely after about two years.
What affects scar appearance
Many factors influence how a scar looks, including its position and the tension across it, your genetics and skin type, your age, smoking, how the wound heals and whether it becomes infected, and how the scar is cared for.
Scar colour changes
It is normal for a scar to look red or pink for several months. In darker skin a scar may become darker (hyperpigmented) or lighter than the surrounding skin. Protecting a scar from the sun can help.
Scar texture changes
A scar may feel firm, raised or lumpy in the early months and usually softens over time. Massage may help soften and flatten a maturing scar once the wound has fully healed.
When a scar may need assessment
You may wish to seek advice if a scar becomes increasingly raised or painful, widens, restricts movement, or remains a concern after the normal healing period. A consultation with a consultant plastic surgeon is the best way to have it assessed.
This information is for general guidance only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified clinician. Reviewed against NHS guidance.
