What kind of scars are permanent?

Author: Nyah Goyette  |  Last update: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Keloid scars. Instead of stopping when the skin is healed, the body keeps making collagen for months — or even years — after the injury, creating a raised scar. These types of scars can form anywhere but are most common on the abdomen, back, chest, ear, jaw, or shoulders.

How do you know if a scar is permanent?

Over the following 6-12 months, the scar will gradually become smoother, softer and paler. Although scars are permanent, they can fade over a period of up to two years. It's unlikely they'll fade anymore after this time. These changes vary from person to person.

What kind of scars don't fade?

Keloid scars

A keloid scar is an overgrowth of tissue that occurs when too much collagen is produced at the site of the wound. The scar keeps growing, even after the wound has healed. Keloid scars are raised above the skin and are red or purple when newly formed, before gradually becoming paler.

Can you have a permanent scar?

You cannot get rid of a scar, but most scars fade over time without any treatment. If a scar is more severe or bothering you, a GP may be able to recommend treatments or refer you to a specialist. The aim of treatment is to help improve how the scar looks.

What scars last the longest?

Keloid Scars

In fact, long after the wound has healed, this type of scar continues to form more tissue, causing a growth above the skin. Some keloids continue to grow months or years after the original injury heals.

Treating Scars After Surgery

Which type of scar is permanent?

Keloid scars.

Instead of stopping when the skin is healed, the body keeps making collagen for months — or even years — after the injury, creating a raised scar. These types of scars can form anywhere but are most common on the abdomen, back, chest, ear, jaw, or shoulders.

What is the hardest scar to treat?

Hypertrophic scars that result from burn wounds are more difficult to treat. Superficial burn wounds usually heal without forming hypertrophic scars. Deep burn wounds are harder to treat. Many dermatologic and plastic surgeons treat these by removing the burned area and then using a skin graft.

Why do some scars stay forever?

After a scar is first formed, the body continues to touch up its work where it can - which is why scars fade slightly over the years when left alone. But scar tissue does not get replaced by this process2, which means that most scars, when left to heal naturally, will never fully disappear.

Who is the king scar?

Scar debuted in The Lion King (1994). The scheming younger brother of Mufasa, Scar was next-in-line to take the throne, until his nephew Simba, Mufasa's son, was born, replacing him. Determined to seize the throne, Scar devises a plan to kill both Simba and Mufasa.

Is having a scar a disability?

Scars, paired with second-degree burns, are a prevalent service-connected disability in new claims each year. Nearly a million servicemembers receive some level of disability rating for scars and burns. If you have a debilitating service-connected scar, you may be eligible to receive compensation from VA disability.

What scars are the worst?

These areas include the ears, the top of the shoulder and the area in front of the breastbone (sternum). There are lots of theories as to why this may be. Some people have suggested that it is due to the genes at these sites which have a more angry response to injury.

Can vaseline remove scars?

Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible. Another tip for caring for your scars includes surgery. Surgery will not eliminate the scar but can change its shape or make it less noticeable.

What color is a fully healed scar?

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 an atrophic scar look like?

Atrophic scars are the opposite of hypertrophic scars. They are depressed, sunken and often have a pitted appearance.

Can scar tissue become permanent?

How much a scar fades depends on its size, location and type. However, scars never fully disappear, because the jumbled tissue remains fundamentally different from the skin around it.

Who was killed by Scar?

In the past, Scar possessed the Roar of the Elders, led the Lion Guard, and later after having killed both Mufasa and his Lion guard, and exiling Simba, ruled the Pride Lands.

At what point is a scar permanent?

Scar Process

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.

Are scars attractive on a man?

Men with mild facial scars were typically ranked as more appealing by women who were looking for a brief relationship, though they were not considered better as marriage material, a study found. In the same experiments, women with facial scars were judged to be as attractive as those without, the researchers said.

Which scars are not permanent?

Hypertrophic Scars – Raised scars that remain within the boundaries of the initial injury, incision or trauma, hypertrophic scars can be red and raised enough to be readily noticeable. In some cases, hypertrophic scars will fade over time on their own.

What vitamin is good for scars?

Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.

Does vaseline help scars?

Use Vaseline® Jelly for Scars

By sealing in moisture it also helps to reduce dryness of scarred skin, once your skin has healed. This may help to improve the appearance of scars, making the skin look smoother and softer, as well as help to reduce itchiness caused by dryness.

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