Researchers warn that repeatedly injuring the same delicate skin areas—such as through friction, pressure, or minor trauma—can lead to long-term scarring and tissue stiffening. The process replaces natural, flexible skin with rigid collagen fibers, a condition known as fibrosis, which may impair mobility and function over time. Studies suggest this cumulative damage occurs even from seemingly minor or chronic irritation. Understanding the mechanism could help in developing treatments for conditions where repeated skin trauma is a factor.
“And repeatedly traumatizing the same confined area of thin skin increases the cumulative risk of traumatic dermal scarring (fibrosis), replacing flexible dermal tissue with stiff scar collagen that ...
