ABSTRACT
From an evolutionary perspective, the replacement of injured areas with fast-growing ‘‘scar’’ tissue is beneficial in that it rapidly reestablishes cutaneous integrity of the organism. However, in certain individuals and under certain conditions, the protective repair response can become pathologic and lead to the formation of hypertrophic scars or keloids. Although frequently discussed together, the current evidence suggests that hypertrophic scars and keloids are different entities with different etiologies.
