THE MOLECULAR-BASIS OF KELOID AND HYPERTROPHIC SCAR FORMATION

Excess scar formation secondary to traumatic or surgical injuries can have devastating consequences, ranging from body disfigurement to orga n dysfunction, Hypertrophic scars and keloids are skin fibrotic condit ions that can be caused by minor insults to skin, such as acne or ear piercing, or by severe injuries such as burns, Differences between kel oids, hypertrophic scars and normal scars include distinct scar appear ance, histologic morphology and cellular function in response to growt h factors. Recent advances in our understanding of the wound healing p rocess reveal possible causes for hypertrophic scars and keloids, This information might assist in the development of efficacious treatment for hypertrophic scar and keloid formation.