What does healing scars look like?

Author: Justus Morar  |  Last update: Thursday, September 25, 2025

As the wound goes through the healing process, scars will usually appear a light red or pink at first, then begin to fade over time.

What should a scar look like when healing?

It will take six to 18 months for the scar to have its final appearance. Your scar should gradually soften and fade over these six to 18 months, but will look pink initially (photo B). Some scars never fade. If your scar stays pink after 12 to 18 months please call to discuss options.

What are the symptoms of a healing scar?

As your skin continues to heal, the scar will flatten and change color. In time, many flat scars are nearly the same color as your skin. A flat scar may also be paler or slightly darker than your surrounding skin. Proper wound care may increase the likelihood that you'll see a flat scar instead of a raised scar.

How do you know scar tissue is healing?

Over the following months, the scar will become smaller and blend more with the person's skin tone. Signs that a scar is mature include the tissue becoming a lighter colour, less sensitive, and smoother in texture.

What color is a healed scar?

No two scars are the same and each person's scars heal differently. Your scar may be reddened at first and may settle down to become paler in colour and smoother. It will take up to 12-18 months after your surgery/injury for your scar to settle fully.

How Your Body Heals Cuts, Scrapes, and Puncture Wounds to the Skin

What color is correct for scars?

Green – Directly across from red on the color wheel, green concealer neutralizes redness and is among the best makeup to cover acne scars as well as blemishes, rosacea, and any other redness on your face such as around your nose or between your brows.

What color should a healing incision look like?

Pink skin around wound

As a wound continues to heal, the red tissue will transition to a lighter pink color, which is a very good sign for your wound's progression. This pink tissue under and around a scab is known as epithelial tissue.

How do you know if a scar isn't healing properly?

If you notice any of the following, please contact your plastic surgeon immediately.
  1. Fever.
  2. Delay in the healing process.
  3. Pus or redness.
  4. Worsening pain.
  5. Tenderness, warmth, or swelling near the incision site.

When is it too late to massage scar tissue?

For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.

What are the three stages of scar healing?

Three Stages of Wound Healing
  • Inflammatory phase – This phase begins at the time of injury and lasts up to four days. ...
  • Proliferative phase – This phase begins about three days after injury and overlaps with the inflammatory phase. ...
  • Remodeling phase – This phase can continue for six months to one year after injury.

What helps scars heal?

Treatment for scars
  • silicone dressings or gels.
  • steroid injections or cream.
  • cryotherapy (a treatment to freeze the scar)
  • laser therapy.
  • skin camouflage (creams and powders you use to cover your scar)

What does scar tissue damage look like?

As scar tissue begins to form, it may appear red, raised, and hard, but over time it fades, flattens, and softens. Browse our specialists and get the care you need. Depending on the type of injury, the depth of the wound, and the person's skin type, this process takes months.

Is My scar Infected or is it healing?

While mild redness is a normal part of the healing process, excessive redness spreading from the wound site and accompanied by significant swelling could indicate an infection. While some discomfort is expected during the healing process, persistent or worsening pain in and around the wound can be a sign of infection.

What is an abnormal healing scar?

A hypertrophic scar is a thick raised scar that's an abnormal response to wound healing. They more commonly occur in taut skin areas following skin trauma, burns or surgical incisions. Treatments include medication, freezing, injections, lasers and surgery.

When do scars look their worst?

Scars seem to get worse before they get better. For about six weeks after surgery the scar becomes red, firm and hard. This is the body's way of making a very strong and solid scar. Over the next four months the scar will soften and lose the redness.

Does a wound heal faster, covered or uncovered?

Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.

Does rubbing a scar help it fade?

Massage is a way of softening and flattening scars and reducing the adhesions between the different layers of the tissue, making the scar tissue more flexible.

When is it too late to use silicone gel for scars?

The timing of silicone scar sheet use can affect its efficacy, but it is generally never too late to start using them. While the best results are often seen when treatment begins shortly after wound closure or the formation of a scar, established scars can also show improvement.

What does it feel like when scar tissue releases?

Scar Tissue Release Therapy is a gentle yet effective modality. In your session you may feel such sensations as a slight tugging or pressure as the scar tissue is released.

What color should a healing scar be?

When a scar first develops on lighter skin, it's usually pink or red. Over time, the pinkish color fades, and the scar becomes slightly darker or lighter than the color of the skin. In people with dark skin, scars often appear as dark spots. Sometimes scars itch, and they may be painful or tender.

What does a sepsis scab look like?

A sepsis scab is not your ordinary skin abrasion. Imagine it as a dark, ominous cloud on your skin, often appearing red, swollen, and warm to the touch. Unlike regular scabs, sepsis-related scabs are typically surrounded by discolored skin and may ooze pus or other fluids.

What does a healthy healing scar look like?

You're in the home stretch: Your wound has filled in and a new surface has formed. This final period can last from 6 months to 2 years. You'll see some changes in your scar. It will go from looking thick, red, and raised to thinner, flatter, and more like your usual skin color.

When should you stop putting vaseline on a wound?

This will help keep the wound moist and allow it to heal faster with less scarring. Continue applying the petroleum jelly until the wound has fully healed. Open wounds heal more slowly. A large wound can take 4 weeks or more to heal.

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