Is it a scar that grows on my body and protrudes from the surface of my skin? Why do scars grow? The difference between scars and proliferative scars Scars are not the same as proliferative scars and should be differentiated (there is an overwhelming tendency to mistakenly treat or refer to proliferative scars as scars, which is incorrect). In essence, a scar is a fibrous tissue tumor on the skin that grows in all directions, proliferates in the dermis, and expands into the surrounding normal skin. It can appear simultaneously on various parts of the body. Although sometimes similar in appearance to scars, proliferative scars are confined to the damaged area of the skin and do not expand into normal tissue. Causes and characteristics of scar formation The cause of scar formation is still unknown, due to the presence of idiosyncratic qualities in individuals, known as scarring tendencies. This explanation is clearly metaphysical. It has been observed that endocrine stimulation is closely associated with it, varying with age; for example, scarring is most likely to occur between the ages of 10 and 20, while after menopause in women, the bumps disappear on their own or no longer produce new bumps. However, this is not an absolute rule. We have seen children as young as 2 to 3 years old with typical scars. Sometimes postmenopausal women and older men can also have scars. Patients with severe burns, especially chemical burns, may also develop scars, suggesting that chronic infection and chemical irritation are also possible causative factors. Darker pigmented races are more likely to develop them because of their thick skin, high fat content, and high sulfur content, and the metabolism of sulfur is related to the formation of bumps. In addition, there is a genetic link in the family, with a tendency for offspring to develop them. Another characteristic of scars is their location. It is usually most likely to appear on the upper neck, ears, chest, shoulders, and upper arms. In women, the sternum is the preferred site, which is associated with the pull of the weight of the breasts on either side and breathing movements, and it rarely appears on the hands and feet below the wrist and condylar joints. In general, scars often develop in the direction of the skin line rather than expanding across it. The factors that contribute to the formation of such expansive lesions in scars remain to be studied in depth. It has been suggested that serum exuding from the trauma site may contribute to the proliferative response of the fibrous tissue, and it has also been suggested that the serum of such patients contains some unknown substance that stimulates fibroblast proliferation. Clinically, scars are red, hard, and protrude from the surface. They are sometimes fist-shaped or crab-foot-shaped, hence the name crab-foot swelling. Sometimes they are connected in bands. The area is itchy or painful with localized congestion. Infection can easily break down after trauma. The scars on the neck often spread to the left and right, spreading to the ears and jaw, and uniting to form a band of hard lumps. The buried sebaceous follicles can cause cysts, which are easily complicated by inflammation and acute purulent infection, requiring incision and drainage; or repeated episodes, forming fistulas that do not heal over time. The bumps can sometimes become lighter in color, softer in texture, less itchy and painful, and stop expanding in later stages.