How scars heal
A scar is simply the record of the skin repairing itself. Knowing how that repair works explains why scars look the way they do — and why no two are approached quite the same.
The kinds of scar
Scars heal in different ways — and each kind is approached differently, which is why assessment always comes first.
Flat & discoloured
Level with the skin but darker or redder — a question of tone more than texture.
Raised
Hypertrophic or keloid scars sit above the surface, and need a careful, conservative approach.
Depressed
Indented scars sit below the surface and respond to treatments that rebuild texture from within.
Repair, not replacement
When the skin is injured below the surface, the body rushes to close the gap with new collagen. But this repair collagen is laid down quickly and less tidily than the original ordered structure — which is why a scar has a different texture, and often a different colour, from the skin around it.
That collagen then remodels over months as the scar matures, usually fading and flattening with time.
Why scars differ
Sometimes the body makes too much repair collagen, leaving a raised (hypertrophic or keloid) scar. Sometimes too little support forms underneath, leaving a depressed or indented scar — the kind acne often leaves. And sometimes the texture heals flat but the tone stays darker or redder.
A scar's type, age, depth, location and your skin tone all shape how it looks and how it's best approached — which is exactly why assessment comes first.
What ‘treating’ a scar really means
No treatment makes a scar vanish entirely — the skin has genuinely changed there. What considered care can do is encourage the skin to remodel more evenly, softening texture, easing colour, and making a scar less noticeable over a course.
Newer scars are often guided as they mature; established ones can still be improved. The honest goal is ‘blend it in’, not ‘erase it’.
This page is general education, not medical advice. Your skin is always assessed individually in a consultation with our qualified team.
Common questions
Why do scars form?
When skin is injured below the surface, the body repairs the gap with new collagen laid down quickly and less neatly than the original — so the texture and colour differ from surrounding skin.
Do all scars look the same?
No. Too much repair collagen makes a raised scar; too little makes a depressed one; and some heal flat but discoloured. Each type is approached differently.
Can a scar be completely removed?
Not entirely — the skin has genuinely changed. The realistic goal is to soften its texture, tone and visibility so it blends more naturally.
Related concerns & treatments
Understand what's right for you.
A complimentary consultation and skin analysis is the best way to see what your skin actually needs — with no pressure.