Scarring Equals Healing

Everyone has at least a scar or two obtained as a kid. Many people take pride in the badges of courage or badges of less-than-logical thinking that they earned as children. Of course there are many other ways the body acquires scars.

When you experience a trauma that breaks the skin, the body has to heal. When the damaged or removed skin is repaired or replaced a scar can form. The repair is usually made up of leathery, gristly or tough skin, noticeably different from the surrounding areas that have not been injured.

These marks on the skin can also stem from infections, such as those that occur when children have chickenpox and scratch the blisters, allowing bacteria to infect the areas. They can occur as a result of injury from a car accident, falling off a bike, tripping and falling and so forth. Burns sometimes leave prominent reminders as can surgery incisions.

As the body heals it can leave an array of reminders. Some are flat or sunken, others lumpy and some are colorful. The final appearance is dependent on a person’s skin type and color, the part of the body that is injured, the person’s age and the nutritional values of the person. A healthy body is better able to heal. The healing process can be painful, depending on the severity of the injury and itchiness is often associated with healing.

When someone has a severe scar, it can challenge his self esteem and make him self conscious. Some people go as far as to retreat from society, hiding out in solitude. This can also happen in instances where small imperfections are involved. Mentally, a person can blow the mark out of proportion, or so it would seem to others.

Scars generally fade with time and there are medical procedures that can fade or remove some of them.