What occurs when there is a lightly raised mark on the skin from a healed injury?

When there is a lightly raised mark on the skin from a healed injury, it is most accurately described as a scar. Scarring is a natural part of the healing process, where the body repairs itself after an injury. The tissue that forms during this healing process can differ in texture and appearance from the surrounding skin.

A scar typically forms when the dermis, the inner layer of skin, has been damaged, prompting collagen fibers to form a new cellular structure in that area. As the skin heals, this new tissue may be different in color, texture, and sensitivity compared to undamaged skin. Over time, many scars will fade and may become less prominent, but they are fundamentally different from the normal skin that surrounds them.

In contrast, ulcers involve a loss of tissue, fissures are splits or cracks in the skin, and keloids are raised scars that grow larger than the original injury site and may happen due to an overproduction of collagen during the healing process.