Final answer:
A scar develops after an injury when fibroblasts generate a collagen-rich tissue as part of the healing process, which differs from the original skin and lacks accessory structures. Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue, while atrophic scars are sunken. The healing process follows a sequence of blood clot formation, wound cleaning, tissue growth, and scar formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a client asks why a scar developed after an injury, the nurse can explain that scarring is a natural part of the healing process. Most cuts or wounds trigger the body's repair mechanisms, where fibroblasts create scar tissue from collagen. Unlike normal skin, scar tissue has a basket-weave pattern of collagen fibers and does not regenerate the skin's typical cellular structure or accessory structures like hair follicles, sweat glands, or sebaceous glands.
Sometimes, keloids may form if there's an overproduction of collagen, leading to a raised or hypertrophic scar, whereas atrophic scars have a sunken appearance, often resulting from acne or chickenpox. The skin's healing process involves several steps, beginning with the formation of a blood clot, followed by the removal of waste, angiogenesis, and finally, wound contraction and scar tissue formation.