scar

scar¹

—scarless, adj.

/skahr/, n., v., scarred, scarring.

n.

1. a mark left by a healed wound, sore, or burn.

2. a lasting aftereffect of trouble, esp. a lasting psychological injury resulting from suffering or trauma.

3. any blemish remaining as a trace of or resulting from injury or use.

4. Bot. a mark indicating a former point of attachment, as where a leaf has fallen from a stem.

v.t.

5. to mark with a scar.

v.i.

6. to form a scar in healing.

[1350-1400; ME; aph. var. of ESCHAR]

scar²

/skahr/, n. Brit.

1. a precipitous, rocky place; cliff.

2. a low or submerged rock in the sea.

[1300-50; ME skerre < ON sker SKERRY]

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Mark left on the skin after a wound heals.

Cells called fibroblasts produce collagen fibres, which form bundles that make up the bulk of scar tissue. Scars have a blood supply but no oil glands or elastic tissue, so they can be slightly painful or itchy. Hypertrophic scars grow overly thick and fibrous but remain within the original wound site. Scars can also develop into tumourlike growths called keloids, which extend beyond the wound's limits. Both can inhibit movement when they result from serious burns over large areas, especially around a joint. Scars, especially those from unaided healing of third-degree burns, can become malignant. Treatment of serious scars is one of the most important problems in plastic surgery.

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▪ biology

      mark left on the skin after the healing of a cut, burn, or other area of wounded tissue. As part of the healing process, specialized cells called fibroblasts (fibroblast) in adjacent areas of skin produce a fibrous connective tissue made up of collagen. The bundles formed by these whitish, rather inelastic fibres make up the bulk of the scar tissue. Though scar tissues possess networks of small capillaries and are thus supplied with blood, they lack the oil glands and elastic tissue that normally protect the skin against irritation; consequently, they are often slightly painful or itchy.

      Sometimes a scar becomes an excessively thick and fibrous, tumourlike growth called a keloid (q.v.), which extends beyond the wound's original limits. Another, less serious form of overscarring is that of hypertrophic scars, in which the scar grows overly thick but remains confined within the limits of the wound. Keloids and hypertrophic scars are most troublesome when they result from serious burns and cover large areas of the skin; these may inhibit a person's movement, especially around a joint. All scars, but especially those resulting from unaided healing of third-degree burns, also are prone to malignant change.

      The treatment of serious or prominent scars is considered by plastic (plastic surgery) surgeons to be among their most important problems. Dermabrasion, i.e., abrading the skin in a controlled manner, can be used to remove unsightly scars that have resulted from surgery or acne. Small scars can best be prevented by keeping a scab from forming on a wound through the use of nonstick bandages. The scars left in the wake of scabs form indentations in the skin.

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