Abstract: A method for objectively assessing the severity of scars, which method comprises: (i) classifying cell nuclei in scar tissue into different types of nuclei such that one of the types is elongated nuclei which is different from other nuclei in that the elongated nuclei has a ratio of length to breadth which exceeds a predetermined number; (ii) measuring the angle that the longest axis of the elongated nuclei makes with the surface of tissue surrounding the scar; and (iii) ranking the severity of the scar on the basis of the degree of alignment of the elongated nuclei with the surface of the tissue surrounding the scar.