A healthy scar's color depends on several factors, including skin tone and the scar's age. Initially, scars on lighter skin often appear pink or red. Over time, this color fades, and the scar becomes slightly darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. On darker skin, scars may present as dark spots.
Scar Color Progression and Significance
- New Scars: Frequently exhibit a reddish or pinkish hue, indicating active healing and blood vessel proliferation. This is typical for newer wounds. References such as the Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11030-scars and the American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/scars-symptoms confirm this.
- Mature Scars: As the healing process progresses, the color gradually changes. The redness diminishes, and the scar may become a paler pink, or even match the surrounding skin tone. It may even appear slightly lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/scars provides similar observations regarding the color change over time.
- Skin Tone Influence: The final color of the scar is heavily influenced by individual skin pigmentation. Individuals with darker skin tones might notice their scars are darker than their skin, appearing brown or purplish. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/keloid-scar/symptoms-causes/syc-20520901 mentions this variation based on skin color.
Abnormal Scar Coloration
While a pink or red scar might be indicative of a new scar, abnormal colors can point to other issues. Persistent redness, purple or brown discoloration, or unusual color variations warrant medical evaluation.
