Type of Scars
Scars form when the skin repairs itself after injury, surgery, acne, burns or other trauma. Different kinds of scars look and feel different and respond to different treatments. Below are common scar types explained in plain language, what causes them, how they usually look, and typical treatment options offered at SELY MED INK & BODY STUDIO.
Atrophic (Depressed) Scars
What they are: Scars that sit below the surrounding skin surface—sunken or pitted.
Common causes: Acne, chickenpox, surgical wounds that healed with tissue loss.
How they look: Small or broad indentations, sometimes with sharp edges (ice pick) or wider, shallow depressions (boxcar, rolling).
Treatment options: Focused Medical Micro-needling FMM* SELY EXCLUSIVE, dermal fillers, subcision (breaking tethering bands), CO₂ or fractional lasers, chemical peels, and combined approaches for best results.
Hypertrophic Scars
What they are: Thick, raised scars that stay within the boundary of the original wound.
Common causes: Deep cuts, surgical incisions, wound tension during healing.
How they look: Red or pink, raised and sometimes itchy; can soften and flatten over time.
Treatment options: Focused Medical Micro-needling- FMM* SELY EXCLUSIVE, Steroid injections, silicone sheets or gels, laser therapy, radiofrequency skin tightening, and microneedling. Scar revision procedures can improve contour and texture.
Keloid Scars (must be treated with steroid injections first)
What they are: Overgrown scars that extend beyond the original injury into surrounding skin.
Common causes: Strong genetic tendency; can follow piercings, acne, surgery, or small injuries.
How they look: Firm, raised, sometimes nodular growths; may be darker than surrounding skin and can be itchy or painful.
Treatment options: Steroid injections, cryotherapy, laser, pressure therapy, and careful surgical removal combined with post-op treatments to reduce recurrence. Keloids can be stubborn and may require ongoing care.
Contracture Scars
What they are: Scars that tighten the skin, limiting movement, often formed after burns.
Common causes: Deep burns or large-area skin loss.
How they look: Tight, shiny skin that restricts joint or tissue movement; may distort nearby features.
Treatment options: Surgical release using NUE Regen serum and needling to help release contracted scars that are tight, skin grafting, physical therapy, and non-surgical treatments like laser and targeted radiofrequency to improve mobility and appearance.
Stretch Marks (Striae)
What they are: A type of scar from rapid skin stretching that damages collagen and elastin.
Common causes: Pregnancy, rapid weight gain or growth spurts, bodybuilding.
How they look: Initially red, purple or dark lines that fade to silvery or pale streaks over time.
Treatment options: Inkless StretchMark Regeneration, Medical Microneedling, fractional lasers, radiofrequency treatments, topical retinoids (where appropriate), and combined therapies to improve texture and colour.
Acne Scars (special category)
What they are: Can be atrophic (ice pick, boxcar, rolling) or hypertrophic/keloidal depending on the person and severity of inflammation.
Common causes: Moderate to severe acne, especially when picked or popped.
How they look: Mixture of pits, depressed areas, or raised bumps; often uneven texture.
Treatment options: Tailored combination of SELY EXCLUSIVE- Focused Medical Micro-needling *FMM. Multiple sessions are usually needed.
How scar treatment is chosen
Scar age, type, location, skin tone, and your medical history all matter.
Older scars may respond differently than fresh scars.
Darker skin tones require careful selection of lasers and treatments to lower the risk of pigment changes.
Often a combination of treatments gives the best result—e.g., microneedling plus radiofrequency and topical care.
What to expect from realistic results
Scars rarely disappear completely; the goal is improvement in appearance, texture, colour and sometimes function.
Multiple sessions and maintenance may be needed.
We assess scars in person to recommend a personalised plan and estimate likely improvement.
If you’d like, we can review photos of your scar(s) to suggest options and a treatment plan. Please provide clear, well-lit pictures taken from a few angles (a close-up and a view showing location on the body) and tell us how long you’ve had the scar, any prior treatments, and any medical conditions or medications.
Note: For serious concerns (infected wounds, rapidly growing lumps, or unexplained changes in a scar), see a medical professional promptly.
