Why Does Darker Skin Show Scars More Prominently? Darker skin has more naturally occurring melanin in the outer surface, or epidermis. When new skin develops in the form of scars, the amount of melanin involved in the process is different than the rest of the surface skin.
In general, the darker the skin type, the more likely the body is to form a thicker scar. This is believed to be caused by genetics, skin coloring, and the area of the body in which the incision is made. (Earlobes, arms, the pelvic region, face, and collar bone are common areas for scarring.)
When a scar first develops on lighter skin, it's usually pink or red. Over time, the pinkish color fades, and the scar becomes slightly darker or lighter than the color of the skin. In people with dark skin, scars often appear as dark spots. Sometimes scars itch, and they may be painful or tender.
Type 3 skin has a higher scarring potential than Type 1 or 2. Type 4 skin is described as olive or caramel toned, typically with hazel or brown eyes and dark hair. Type 4 skin tans very easily and may still burn with long sun exposure. Type 4 skin scars easily.
Black people have more melanin than other races, and they are more likely to develop keloids than white people. When we injure our skin, the body produces cells that make pigment (melanocytes). This means there's more melanin in the injured area.
Why does black skin experience such visible scarring? In one word - melanin. Whilst it is the rich pigment that gives us our skin colour, it is also very sensitive and quick to go into overdrive when the skin suffers any type of trauma, be it a breakout or a cut.
In the Caucasian patient, keloids tend to be erythematous and telangiectatic; they are often hyperpigmented in darker-skinned individuals. Keloids most commonly occur on the chest, shoulders, upper back, posterior neck, and earlobes.
A keloid scar is an overgrowth of tissue that happens when too much collagen is produced at the site of a wound. The scar keeps growing, even after the wound has healed. Keloid scars are raised above the skin and can be pink, red, the same colour or darker than surrounding skin.
According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, people with darker skin pigmentation are more likely to have severe skin scarring than those with fair skin. They are also more likely to develop keloids and form excessive scars.
Mature scars can also flatten out as they go through this aging process, but it's important to note that scars will never go away completely. Even with some scar treatments, the appearance will be improved, but they will never totally disappear because the skin composition is different from the surrounding tissues.
Humans with dark skin pigmentation have skin naturally rich in melanin (especially eumelanin), and have more melanosomes which provide superior protection against the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation. This helps the body to retain its folate reserves and protects against damage to DNA.
Location, Location, Location. When it comes to scarring, where it occurs matters. If the wound happens in an area that has thin skin and doesn't move a lot, there will be minimal scarring. However, a wound in an area that moves is far more likely to scar.
Study tests if facial scars are attractive
The results come from a study of 223 people who were asked to look at pictures of opposite-sex faces. Some people had small facial scars, while others did not. The facial scars made men 6 percent more attractive, on average.
Summary: Study reveals after healing, minor facial scars have little to no effect on ratings of attractiveness. In fact, some facial scars may be considered to make a person appear more attractive to others.
Risk Factors
Although a keloid scar can form on anyone, some ethnic groups are at a greater risk. People with more melanin in their skin, such as Black people, Asians, and Hispanics, are more susceptible. Some areas of the body are more prone to keloid scars, particularly parts where there is skin or muscle tension.
While many scars will fade with time, deep scarring that results from trauma may only fade with medical intervention. Not all scarring treatments are appropriate for black skin, so it is best to speak with a dermatologist.
Researchers have found that men are subconsciously attracted to fairer skin due to its association with purity, innocence, modesty and goodness, while women feel that darker complexions are associated with sex, virility and danger.
Pale white skin along with rouge cheeks and blue eyes was considered quintessential beauty of the European Middle Ages and snow-white skin, lightly rose coloured cheeks and dark-brown eyes was the beauty ideals of curvy women of the Renaissance period.
In short, scarred tissue is different in composition than regular skin tissue. It's not weaker per se, it's just, well, different. Scars are made up of a collagen matrix which doesn't really have an equivalent amount of blood vessels or the same properties.
After a scar is first formed, the body continues to touch up its work where it can - which is why scars fade slightly over the years when left alone. But scar tissue does not get replaced by this process2, which means that most scars, when left to heal naturally, will never fully disappear.
Abstract. Age-related differences in wound healing have been clearly documented. Although the elderly can heal most wounds, they have a slower healing process, and all phases of wound healing are affected. The inflammatory response is decreased or delayed, as is the proliferative response.
Depending on the location of the scar, acne scars can appear more severe as you grow older because of collagen depletion in the skin. Depressed acne scars or atrophic acne scarring will usually look worse as your skin loses natural volume as part of the natural aging process.
Keloid scarring may comprise of multiple genes, and affected individuals could possess variable genetic susceptibility for a set of genes or gene mutations associated with keloid phenotype [4].
The Connection Between Old Scars and Itching
Scars from burns, contractures, may make your skin stretch tightly. Healed burn scars may often trigger an itchy sensation due to the skin tightness.
It may be very tempting to squeeze an ear keloid. However, you can't pop an ear keloid. Ear keloids are a type of scar tissue, so there isn't any pus to squeeze out, like a pimple. Trying to pop a keloid on your ear can damage your skin and introduce bacteria, which can cause an infection.