Final answer:
A wound may reopen if the scar tissue formed is not strong enough, often caused by inadequate healing or excessive stress on the wound before complete recovery. Healing involves several stages, including clotting and collagen formation, but sutures are often used for deep wounds to promote stronger healing. Advanced treatments can address severe scarring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The occurrence being described happens when a scar is not strong enough to keep a wound closed, leading to the risk of the wound reopening. This situation can arise when the healing process of a wound is compromised, or in cases where the wound is particularly large or deep. After an injury, the body initiates a tissue repair phase which includes the clotting of blood to reduce blood loss and the formation of granulation tissue. If this process does not occur properly, or the wound is subjected to excessive stress before it has fully healed, the scar tissue may not be strong enough to maintain wound closure, leading to possible reopening of the wound.
Wound healing takes place in several stages which include the formation of a blood clot, inflammation, proliferation of fibroblasts which generate scar tissue in the form of collagen, and finally tissue remodeling. A primary union is the optimal form of wound healing, where edges are close together, as opposed to a secondary union which requires more extensive tissue replacement, often resulting in more significant scarring. When the wound is particularly deep, sutures (or stitches) are recommended to assist in closing the wound and promoting primary union, thereby minimizing scar formation and strengthening the wound closure.
However, there is a possibility of overproduction of scar tissue, known as a keloid, or the development of atrophic scars, which are seen in cases of acne and chickenpox. Treatments such as applying mineral oil and lotions can reduce the formation of scar tissue, while more advanced cosmetic procedures aim to improve severe scarring.