When someone has a cut or surgical incision that results in a "scar", is the scar tissue replacing all 3 layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis)? Or only the first one or two of them?
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1$\begingroup$ Do you want to know why scars don't go away? If not please do tell me what you want to know. I'm a bit lost here $\endgroup$– user18914Commented Jan 10, 2016 at 6:49
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$\begingroup$ Scarring can be internal also so it would depend how deep the cut was and how successfully it healed along with many other variables. $\endgroup$– TechnetiumCommented Jan 10, 2016 at 6:59
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1$\begingroup$ @Tusky it is clear what the OP is asking. Problem is there's to many critical variables to consider to be able to provide a straight answer. The OP didn't mention anything about why scars don't go away. $\endgroup$– TechnetiumCommented Jan 10, 2016 at 7:11
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1$\begingroup$ Exactly my point. We need more detail $\endgroup$– user18914Commented Jan 10, 2016 at 10:27
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1 Answer
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This depends on how deep was the initial wound, and how that wound healed. There are mainly two ways a wound could heal, either by primary intention (like in surgically closed wounds), or by secondary intention (like in wound left to scar up with the edges not closed properly).
In very well closed wounds that involves all layers of skin, such as primary intention healing following plastic surgery on previously healthy skin, the skin would regenerate all the layers after a long process that could last for 2 years or longer and involves constant life long remodelling of the remaining scar.
In wounds healed by secondary intention, such as following a third degree burn without treatment with skin grafts, there is extensive scaring (mainly consistent of collagen which could be thought of as a filler and adhesive that allows the epithelial skin layer only to grow over it, without renewing the deeper layers). In such cases the scar is large, adherent to underlying tissue, and has only a thin overlying layer of epithelial skin cells. This scar might also be insensate (numb) as a result of superficial nerve injury due to the initial wound.
Most scars are somewhere on the spectrum between the two extremes mentioned above. A badly sutured surgical wound, or a surgical wound that gets infected later, might still heal by secondary intention causing extensive scaring that doesn't replace all the skin layers. A good plastic surgeon might later remove that scar and allow the wound to heal by primary intension to improve the outcome.
If you would like to expand on how wounds heal, here are a couple of links to start you off:
http://teachmesurgery.com/skills/wounds/wound-healing/ https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1298129-overview
