ATI Physical Assessment Practice Test

Keloids are characterized by a proliferation of scar tissue that can result in hardened or thickened areas of the skin. They typically arise as a result of injury or surgery, where the body’s response to healing leads to an excessive deposit of collagen and other extracellular matrix components. This excess growth creates a raised, firm texture that is distinctly different from the surrounding skin.

In contrast, macules are flat, discolored patches of skin that are not raised or thickened. Papules are small, raised bumps on the skin but do not typically involve the same levels of thickening as keloids. Fissures refer to linear breaks in the skin that do not involve the thickening or hardening process seen in keloids. Therefore, keloids precisely match the description of thickened skin in the context of this question.