What forms a scar?

Scars form as a way for your body to heal damage to the skin. When skin is injured, the blood vessels constrict to reduce bleeding. A scab forms to protect the wound and stop infection. Underneath the scab, the skin starts to repair itself by producing new cells and collagen, which is a protein that strengthens the skin. As the new skin grows, the scab eventually falls off. If the skin is damaged deeply, scars can form.

Scars occur when the dermal layer of the skin, which contains collagen and elastin, is damaged. When the skin is injured, the body produces scar tissue to repair the damage. Scar tissue is made of different types of collagen than normal skin, and it is not as flexible or elastic. As a result, scars often have a different texture and appearance than the surrounding skin.