Why don't scars just go away?
October 30, 2008 9:06 AM Subscribe
Probably a dumb question, but if skin cells regenerate completely over time, why aren't scars... regenerated out?
The simple answer is that the scar tissue is also regenerating and since they're making copies of the same unorganized collagen, you get the same scar tissue.
posted by junesix at 9:25 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by junesix at 9:25 AM on October 30, 2008
I'm not a dermatologist nor did i look anything up, but i sure have noticed that many of my notable childhood scars are barely there or gone at this point. so i think to some extent scars are positively affected by time. i imagine it would have a lot to do with what kind of scar it was, how it was cared for, where it was, etc.
posted by Soulbee at 11:13 AM on October 30, 2008
posted by Soulbee at 11:13 AM on October 30, 2008
It's an artifact of the healing process.
The way we grow our skin tissue through childhood is different than the way we regenerate skin tissue that is injured.
Over time it goes through similar remodeling processes as the rest of our skin tissue, but as it was never the same to start with some of the differences always persist to some degree, diminishing over time but never completely disappearing.
To clarify, it's not correct that you're making copies of the same unorganized collagen, as collagen structures are continually remodeled to adjust to stressors. Wikipedia page on wound healing
posted by zentrification at 6:15 PM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
The way we grow our skin tissue through childhood is different than the way we regenerate skin tissue that is injured.
Over time it goes through similar remodeling processes as the rest of our skin tissue, but as it was never the same to start with some of the differences always persist to some degree, diminishing over time but never completely disappearing.
To clarify, it's not correct that you're making copies of the same unorganized collagen, as collagen structures are continually remodeled to adjust to stressors. Wikipedia page on wound healing
posted by zentrification at 6:15 PM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
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Why are scars permanent?
Why are scars permanent?
posted by Lucinda at 9:23 AM on October 30, 2008