Final answer:
Raised, tumor-like scars that continue to grow beyond normal healing are called keloids, caused by excessive collagen production. Unlike keloids, atrophic scars have a sunken appearance. Keloids are benign growths that can be surgically removed for comfort or if there is potential for cancer development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who experience their scar continuing to grow uncontrollably, similar to a tumor, are dealing with keloids. This overgrowth of scar tissue occurs due to an ongoing process of collagen formation even after the wound has healed, leading to the development of raised or hypertrophic scars. Unlike keloids, scars resulting from acne and chickenpox are known as atrophic scars and have a sunken appearance.
Keloids are an example of benign tumors that grow excessively, but do not typically threaten life. They may be removed surgically for aesthetic reasons or if there is a risk of them becoming cancerous. Scarring is a natural part of the healing process where fibroblasts generate scar tissue in a basket-weave pattern of collagen, yet this formation does not result in the regeneration of the normal skin structure, such as hair follicles, sweat glands, or sebaceous glands.