During the consultation, many of the patients who come to the clinic ask if they can undergo treatment (especially invasive laser treatment) and worry that they are “scarred” (properly called “keloid”, for the sake of reading habit, the following is still called “scarred”. It is still called “scarring”. This can make the skin worse and worse. These patients often have done their homework before coming in, and some have even consulted “experts” and were scared half to death of the dire consequences of aggressive skin irritation on “scarred” skin. Yes, “scarred” skin is indeed very delicate, and a slight injury may form an unsightly scar. The key is, what is considered “scarring”? What is “scarring”? To answer this question, we have to start with “scars”. “Scar” is the common name for a scar, a natural product of the body’s trauma repair process. In terms of pathology, scar is divided into two categories: normal scar and pathological scar. Except for superficial wounds that can achieve complete structural and functional recovery after repair, all scars formed through the epithelium with scarring healing are considered normal scars, while scars produced by abnormal trauma repair process and excessive proliferation of dermal tissue are called pathological scars, which are also known as “hyperplastic scars” or “keloid scars”. “This classification is scientific, but from the clinical point of view, it is not enough to describe the scar and make the choice of treatment plan. The scar is classified as superficial scar, depressed scar, hyperplastic scar, keloid, atrophic scar, contracture scar, linear scar, bridging scar and webbed scar, etc. Does having keloid scars = “scarring”? Regardless of the type of scarring you have, there is one thing you must firmly believe: scarring does not mean you are unlucky to have “scarring”! Why do you say so? First of all, the percentage of scarred people in the population is very small, how small is it? In terms of probability, it’s about the same as choking to death on a sip of water, and although it’s ridiculous, it’s not easy to “win” the lottery. The true “scarring” is no matter what kind of harmful substances injury, occurred in any part of the body, regardless of gender and age, will leave pathological scarring, that is, where the injury where to leave bumps, it is related to race, skin color, genetics. The scars formed after trauma are protruding, higher than the skin surface, and larger than the original mouth area; ③ After surgery, even small wounds are difficult to heal, and when the wounds grow, the scars will itch and feel like a hard lump; ④ Once folliculitis occurs on the chest or back, many large and hard scars will remain. When you look at these manifestations, some people can’t help but take the right place and still think they are “scarred”? Is it “scarring” to have multiple scars? The question arises again: do people who have several scars on their body, but not every skin injury leaves a scar, count? Of course the answer is no! In addition, the longer the healing period, the greater the chance of pathological scarring. Once pathological scarring occurs, it rarely retracts on its own. Among all wounds, the incidence of pathological scarring is about 5%-15%, and the occasional scarring of normal skin is not considered as “scarring”. Is it “scarring” if the color marks are slow to recede? Some people think it is “scarring” if the pigmentation marks are more difficult to fade after skin injury or inflammation than ordinary people. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation refers to skin pigmentation that occurs after an acute or chronic inflammatory process. Sulfhydryl groups in normal skin inhibit the oxidation of tyrosine to melanin, and when some of the sulfhydryl groups are removed during inflammation, local pigmentation increases to form hyperpigmentation. The natural metabolic cycle is related to the development of inflammation and the individual (phagocyte carrying capacity), and has nothing to do with “scarring”. If you know this, I believe you have already learned to determine whether you are “scarred” or not. Usually, if you have a history of keloid or hyperplastic scars, it is necessary to have a pre-operative consultation, which is a kind of responsible performance for yourself, and we strongly support it.