Scanning electronmicroscopy of hypertrophic and keloid scar

Summary The scanning electronmicroscopic appearances of hypertrophic and keloid scar before and after treatment, mature scar and normal skin have been investigated. There is a graduation of features such as collagen orientation and fibre size which accompanies the clinical maturation from the active hypertrophic state into mature scar, a process which is hastened but not materially altered by treatment with steroid or compression-occlusion.