Answer: Scars are fibrous tissue and they can't produce melanin and because they can't produce melanin, they can't tan.
Let's clear something up right now--a tan will not improve the appearance of your scar, and it is very likely to make it worse. It won't “blend in” your scar because the rest of your skin also gets darker. This applies to tanning outdoors, in a tanning bed (don't do it!), by spray tanning or applying self-tanner.
Prolonged sun exposure and tanning may also permanently darken a scar, making it worse; especially in people with melanin-rich, darker skin complexions. But depending on your skin type and responses to incisions and skin wounds, your scar may end up either darker OR lighter than the surrounding skin.
Scars May Become More Visible
Sun exposure affects the pigmentation of your skin. While a tan may be pleasing to your skin per se, the sun does not favors for scars and incision sites. The sun can make scars more visible and pronounced, darkening the tissue and resulting in unappealing discoloration.
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. Sometimes it's visibly lighter than the surrounding skin, or hypopigmented.
Fine-line scars are common following a wound or after surgery. They aren't usually painful, but they may be itchy for a few months. On darker skin types, the scar tissue may fade to leave a brown or white mark. A pale scar may be more obvious on tanned skin because scar tissue doesn't tan.
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.
Scars are not like normal skin. They are more sensitive to ultraviolet light. Scars tend to burn more easily than skin and too much exposure to sun can darken and thicken the scar tissue.
Wear protective clothing that prevents exposure of the surgical wound: Using long sleeves, pants, or other thick clothing prevents UV rays from reaching the healing wound. Use sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher: This product is good for your surgical scars as it prevents the UV rays from penetrating your skin.
A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.
Furthermore, it's imperative to avoid exposing your scar to sunlight as the sun's UV rays can cause hyperpigmentation in unprotected scars. Hyperpigmentation refers to dark brown spots that form on the scar due to an overproduction of the skin pigment melanin. Once formed, this brown discoloration can be permanent.
The sun does not technically make the scar worse, however your scar will be more susceptible to sun damage than undamaged skin. Hence it is important to wear sun protection daily on the scar.
We recommend using a self-tanning lotion such asClinique Body Tinted Lotion Medium - Deep on scars, because lotions give the most precision and control.
It's a common misconception that tanning your skin will help your scar fade; this is just not true. Sun exposure on a still-healing scar will only cause further damage and make the affected area appear darker. So, protect your scar by applying sunscreen—all over, but especially on the scarred skin.
Your scar is very sensitive to strong sunlight and can burn easily, so please try to avoid exposing your scar to the sun. You should use a very strong sunblock (SPF 30 or higher) on your scar for 18 months after the surgery/injury that caused the scar.
Your incision scars should be protected from UV exposure for at least the first year after your surgery. However, given the sun's harmful effects on the skin in general, Dr. Bulan recommends you be diligent about sun protection beyond the first year.
One tip for taking care of scars is to use a topical ointment. Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible.
If you have a scar, you may be concerned with how it will react after exposure to sunlight. The American Academy of Dermatology points out that scars are more sensitive to sunlight than non-scarred skin. If you have a new scar, in particular, your scar may look raw and reddish; if it's old, it will appear white.
Why is it important to use sunscreen on scars? A scar is new and more fragile than the surrounding skin. If you do not use sunscreen, the scar line will react differently to the sun than the surrounding skin. If you don't use sunscreen, the scar tissue will become darker than surrounding skin.
After injury or irritation, skin inflammation triggers an explosion of pigment production. All this color lingers in the area long after wounds heal, creating darker sections of skin and drawing unwanted attention to your scars.
In time, some collagen breaks down at the site of the wound and the blood supply reduces. The scar gradually becomes smoother and softer. Although scars are permanent, they can fade over a period of up to 2 years. It's unlikely they'll fade any more after this time.
When we injure our skin, the body produces cells that make pigment (melanocytes). This means there's more melanin in the injured area. Keloids are more likely to develop on areas of the body that have more melanocytes (cells that make pigment).
Scars take time to settle. The lumpiness, puckering and thickening in the scar take 2-3 months to diminish, whilst the redness and pigmentation can take up to 9-12 months to fade. Most scars become flat and pale after 12 months.
Answer: Scars are fibrous tissue and they can't produce melanin and because they can't produce melanin, they can't tan.
White scars, or “hypopigmented” scars, are due to a loss of melanocytes that manufacture pigment. This loss is usually permanent, but can sometimes be improved by fractional laser resurfacing, which allows some of the pigment cells to migrate back into the lighter-colored skin areas.