06/09/2026
Skin carries out a wide range of functions: regulating temperature, providing sensation, supporting immune defence, forming a barrier against bacterial invasion, controlling fluid loss, and contributing to metabolic processes.
When skin is replaced by scar tissue following an injury, this new tissue does not necessarily replicate all of these functions to the same degree.
Sensation in a scar can be altered, its barrier properties may differ from the surrounding skin, and its capacity to regulate temperature or contribute to other functions can also be affected.
This is one of the reasons scar treatment is not solely focused on how a scar looks.
Approaches such as silicone therapy, pressure garments, laser-based treatment, or surgical revision, where appropriate, may help address some of the functional and symptomatic aspects of a scar — including its pliability, sensitivity, and overall behaviour — alongside its appearance.
Understanding what a scar can and cannot do, compared with the skin it replaced, is part of forming a realistic, individualised treatment plan.
If you have concerns about how a scar is functioning, get in touch to arrange a consultation if appropriate.