Scarring is a normal part of healing after injury, surgery and sometimes infection and inflammation. Scars are formed to seal up wounds and protect the area from further damage. Because scar tissue is much tougher and less flexible than the original tissue, it remains relatively weak and, ironically, may be prone to reinjury.
There are several different types of scars, some raised and lumpy, others tightly bound to the underlying tissue, creating a dip.
Scars can be uncomfortable, impair your movement and make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. They may feel itchy, tender, tight or strangely numb. You may feel a pulling sensation at the injury or surgery site when you make certain movements and you may feel that you have been “done up too tightly”. You may also feel that parts of your body no longer belong together anymore as a joined-up whole.
Internal trauma, such as sprains, strains and childbirth can also cause scarring, although we often don’t consider this, because the skin remains intact.