• Question: why is scar tissue a different colour to normal skin?

    Asked by funkygirl15 to Andrew, Katie, Sadaf on 27 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Andrew Swale

      Andrew Swale answered on 27 Jun 2013:


      New scars are red or purple in color as a result of damaged blood vessels and inflammation. These are hyperpigmented scars

      Older scars are white in color. As a result of the initial inflammation and damage to blood vessels and cells loss of pigment-producing cells occurs.

      Because of the loss of skin pigment the scar becomes hypopigmented (pale).

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