What marks the scarring phase?

• A. Scab is shed, scar tissue is elevated to the epidermis
• B. Inflammatory cells infiltrate
• C. Hair follicles regenerate
• D. Blood vessels proliferate to form granulation tissue

Answer: (A)

During wound healing, the final stages involve remodeling of the scar and reepithelialization. The moment the scab is shed and the scar tissue becomes elevated to the surface of the epidermis signals that the wound has moved from closure into scar maturation. Replacing the temporary crust with a new epidermis and reorganizing collagen creates a visible scar that projects toward the surface, indicating the maturation of the scar tissue.

The other events happen earlier in healing: inflammatory cells infiltrating occurs during the early inflammatory phase, and proliferation brings in new blood vessels to form granulation tissue. Hair follicle regeneration can occur in some wounds but is not the defining feature of the scarring phase.