Oregon Written Tattoo Practice Test

What defines a scar in dermatology?

1. A permanent mark left by a tattoo

2. A fibrous tissue formed after healing a lesion

3. An inflamed skin area

4. A flat discolored area on the skin

The correct answer is: A fibrous tissue formed after healing a lesion

The concept of a scar in dermatology is specifically characterized by the presence of fibrous tissue that forms as a part of the healing process after a lesion, injury, or surgical incision. When the skin sustains damage, the body repairs itself through a complex process that ultimately leads to the replacement of the normal skin tissue with fibrous tissue. This fibrous tissue consists mainly of collagen, which provides strength and support to the skin but differs from the normal skin structure, resulting in a scar. The other options describe different skin conditions or characteristics but do not accurately represent what a scar is. While a permanent mark left by a tattoo can resemble a scar, it is distinct in that it arises from the introduction of ink rather than the healing of damaged tissue. An inflamed skin area pertains to conditions involving redness and swelling, often due to irritation or infection, rather than the healing process that forms scars. A flat discolored area on the skin refers to hyperpigmentation or other skin conditions but does not involve the tissue restructuring that defines a scar. Therefore, the best definition of a scar is the fibrous tissue formed in response to injury during the healing process.