What term refers to a slightly raised or depressed area of skin formed during healing?

A scar is the term that refers to the slightly raised or depressed area of skin that forms during the healing process following an injury. Scars result from the body’s natural healing responses, where tissue fills in a wound or injury, often resulting in a different texture or appearance than the surrounding skin. This occurs as collagen forms in the area to repair damage, leading to a raised or sometimes depressed area, depending on several factors such as the depth and nature of the injury.

In contrast, a wheal is a raised, itchy area typically associated with allergic reactions or insect bites and is not related to healing from a wound. A fissure refers to a deep groove or split in the skin, often caused by dryness or trauma, rather than a scar resulting from healing. Excoriation refers to a skin injury caused by scratching, which may lead to scars but does not inherently define the healed skin itself. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why 'scar' is the appropriate choice for the term describing the healing process of skin.