A scar has a different meaning for everyone. Some people consider their scar a sign of having lived life to the fullest. They wear it with pride, unlike others that prefer to keep their scars to themselves. But no matter what they or others believe about scars, there is an undeniable truth- a scar is the body's way of protecting itself from further damage.

A scar isn't exclusive to adults. As a matter of fact, children are quite vulnerable to scarring because their epidermal and dermal layers tend to overcompensate for an injury. In 2008, a group of scientists conducted a study showing an increase in the rate of scarring as we aged.

The List of Most Common Types of Scars

A scar is as different as the person it affects. That's why all scars are categorized. Here is a list of the different types of scars to help you identify yours:

*Childhood scars: Children are accident prone making them vulnerable to all types of scarring. This type of scar transforms as the child grows.

*Acne scars: If you've had severe acne breakouts then you are likely to have a scar to prove it. The types of acne scars that may result from an acne breakout are varied. The most common types of acne scars are: ice pick scars, rolling scars, atrophic scars, boxcar scars, and hypertrophic or keloid scars.

*Hypertrophic scars: Raised scar and red scar that are similar to keloids, however, these scars do not breach the boundaries of the site of injury.

*Keloid scar: These scars are the result of an overly aggressive healing process and are more common on black-skinned individuals.

*Contracture scars: This type of scar limits mobility of muscles and tendons. It is caused by a burn and appears as a permanent tightening of the skin. Burn scars require special scar treatment (depending on severity). In grave cases, contracture scars can affect muscles and nerves. In the US, 70% of all burn victims are children.