Scars

In dermatological science, scars are defined as fibrous connective tissues that replace normal skin following tissue injury due to various etiological factors such as trauma, disease, or surgical intervention. The physiological process of wound healing is categorized into four sequential phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, as outlined by the World Health Organization's Wound Care Guidelines. Scar tissue is characterized by a lack of elasticity compared to healthy skin. Various morphological types of scars have been identified, including fine-line, keloid, hypertrophic, and atrophic scars, each with unique cellular and molecular characteristics (FDA Scar Management Guidelines; Clinical Dermatology Journal, 2019; USDA Skin Health Review). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has allocated research grants (NIH Research Grants) to explore advanced therapeutic modalities for scar management.