Re: Why do people get scar tissue?

Sarah - That's a good question!  Like so much that has to do with the human 
body, there are lots of variables, but the main determiner is the depth and 
width of the cut.  As you may know, the skin is made of 2 main layers - the 
outer epidermis and the deeper dermis.  The epidermis is made of a type of 
epithelial tissue and the dermis is made of several types of connective 
tissue.  If the wound is not deep enough to penetrate the dermis, there 
will be no scar due to the rapid regeneration of the epidermis.  If the cut 
goes into the dermis, and if the wound is wide enough so that the cut edges 
are not brought together, then the dermis' connective tissue can grow in 
the space between the cut edges of epidermis.  Since the connective tissue 
is different in appearance than the epidermis, we see it as a scar.  So the 
lesson from this is, if you have a wound, get it sutured or at least, close 
it up with a butterfly or a bandaid of some sort.  This will minimize the 
scaring.  Keep thinking! Hope this answer helps you.  J. Bridger