A Simple Guide to Understanding Your Scar
Every scar has a story, and the way it looks, feels, and behaves can tell you a lot about what type it is.
Use this guide to help identify the category your scar most closely fits into.
Flat Scar (or mature)
Looks like
- Pink, red, or slightly darker than your skin at first
- Gradually flattens and fades
- Eventually becomes soft and pale
Feels like
- Smooth
- Flexible
- Not raised or sunken
Common after
- Minor cuts
- Surgical incisions
- Minor burns
- Acne lesions where there is no dermis collapse
If this sounds like your scar, you’re looking a settled scar, where the dermis has repaired with minimal structural change. This type of scar represents the healing outcome with the least structural disruption to the dermis.
Hypertrophic Scar
Looks like
- Raised
- Firm
- Red, pink, or darker than surrounding skin
- Stays within the original wound edges
Feels like
- Tight
- Itchy
- Sometimes warm or sensitive
Common after
- Surgical wounds under tension
- Burns
- Deep cuts
- Inflammation that lasted longer than usual
If this sounds like your scar, you’re seeing a thickened, overactive healing response, but still confined to the original injury. This type of scar reflects a heightened collagen‑building phase that creates extra thickness without extending beyond the original wound.
Keloid Scar
Looks like
- Very raised
- Shiny or smooth
- Extends beyond the original wound
- Can continue growing over time
Feels like
- Firm or rubbery
- Sometimes itchy or tender
Common after
- Ear piercings
- Chest, shoulders, jawline injuries
- Minor trauma in genetically prone individuals
If this sounds like your scar, you may have a keloid, which is the most extreme form of collagen overproduction. This type of scar forms when collagen production continues unchecked, pushing new tissue beyond the boundaries of the original wound.
Atrophic Scar (or indented)
Looks like
- A dip, pit, or depression in the skin
- Shadows may make it more noticeable
- Edges may be sharp or soft
Feels like
- Smooth on top
- Sunken compared to surrounding skin
Common after
- Acne
- Chickenpox
- Injuries where fat or muscle was lost
Subtypes
- Ice pick: deep, narrow
- Boxcar: defined edges
- Rolling: soft, wavy
If this sounds like your scar, you’re dealing with volume loss, not excess collagen. This type of scar reflects a reduction in underlying tissue support, leaving the surface of the skin pulled inward.
Contracture Scar
Looks like
- Tight, shiny, stretched skin
- May pull the skin inward
- Often covers a larger area
Feels like
- Restrictive
- Can limit movement
- Sometimes painful
Common after
- Burns
- Abrasions
- Large injuries
If this sounds like your scar, this is a functional scar caused by intense contraction during healing. This type of scar forms when the healing tissue tightens and pulls the surrounding skin, limiting movement.
Stretch Marks (Striae)
Looks like
- Red, purple, or pink lines (early)
- Pale, silvery, or white lines (mature)
- Often appear in parallel streaks
Feels like
- Slightly indented
- Soft
- Not raised
Common after
- Pregnancy
- Growth spurts
- Rapid muscle gain
- Cortisol changes
If this sounds like your scar, these are dermal tears, technically a form of scarring. This type of scarring appears when the skin’s support network is pulled faster than it can repair, leaving thin, stretched lines in the dermis.
Mixed‑Pattern Scar
Looks like
- A combination of raised and flat
- Or raised and indented
- Or tight and pigmented
- Or multiple textures in one scar
Feels like
- Uneven
- Different textures in different areas
Common after
- Surgery
- Burns
- Trauma
- Acne clusters
If this sounds like your scar, you’re seeing a multi‑layered healing response, which is extremely common. This type of scar reflects several layers of tissue adapting at once, creating a pattern that can look varied across the surface.
Quick Reference: What You’re Seeing vs What It Means
What you notice |
Most likely scar type |
| Raised but stays within wound | Hypertrophic |
| Raised and grows beyond wound | Keloid |
| Sunken or pitted | Atrophic |
| Tight, shiny, restricts movement | Contracture |
| Flat and fading | Mature/Flat |
| Silvery lines | Stretch marks |
| Mixed textures | Mixed‑pattern |
