Trace elements content in serum, normal skin, and scar tissues of keloid and normal scar patients

Wound healing is a normal physiological process that occurs after injury. Scars are usually formed, and the nature of the scar depends on the balance between the formed and degraded collagen during healing. A balanced production and degradation of collagen in wound healing results in the formation of a normal scar whereas an imbalance produces what is known as keloid scar. The factors that cause an imbalance are not well identified, although many factors, such as immunity, genetic, ischaemia, hormonal, growth, and nutritional factors, are blamed. This study was undertaken to investigate trace elements level in the serum, normal skin, and scar tissue of patients with normal and keloid scars. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn) levels were estimated in 100 (50 with normal scars and the others with keloids) patients. The serum level of Zn was found to be higher in keloid scar patients, and this increase was highly significant (P < 0.0001). The level of Cu was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the normal skin and scar tissues of keloid patients. Trace element levels in scar tissues were observed to be lower in comparison to normal skin trace element content in both groups. The significant changes of Zn in serum and Cu in skin and scar tissues of keloid patients as noted in this study may suggest their role in the regulation of behavior of scar formation in wound healing. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 15:57–66, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.