Scarring is the inevitable consequence of damage to the skin. Unfortunately scarless healing does not exist.

The extent of scarring and quality of wound healing is dependent upon a number of factors. Skin type often affects the quality of healing. Darker skin types have a tendency to form darker scars and suffer from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. They also have an increased tendency to develop hypertrophic scarring (raised scars). In Afro-Caribbean and Asian skin types keloid scars (raised scars that extend beyond the site of injury) are a problem.

Wounds that are subject to infection or chronic inflammation can also result in the formation of displeasing scarring especially in conditions such as acne. Certain regions of the body tend to scar less and heal faster than others. The face tends to heal quickly but is the most visible part of the body. Hypertrophic and keloid scars tend to develop over the back, chest and torso more so than the face. Scars need to be stable with no evidence of inflammation or infection before any treatment can be effective in the improvement of their appearance.