Science Questions

Why do some people scar more than others?

Chris - It was a good question and we think inevitably it’s down to overactivity of some elements of the immune system and some people make more of these gene products, that are being discussed between Ben and Paul Martin there, and it could be that this leads to more inflammatory response at the site of the wound, therefore more production of fibrous tissue by those fibroblasts and that’s why you get more scar tissue. Of course you mustn’t ignore the fact that if you get an infection in the wound as well this can prolong the time it takes the wound to form and that again encourages you to make more fibrous tissue.

May 2009