It happens in a fraction of a second. A massive discharge of electricity—sometimes reaching temperatures five times hotter than the surface of the sun—surges through the human body. Most people assume the result is a charred, blackened mess. But the reality is often much stranger, more delicate, and honestly, a bit haunting. The struck by lightning scar, or what medical professionals call a Lichtenberg figure, looks less like a traditional burn and more like a crimson fern or a fractal branching across the skin.
It’s rare. It’s temporary. And it’s one of the most visually striking phenomena in clinical medicine.
Most people who survive a strike don't actually walk away with these "lightning flowers." In fact, lightning injuries are incredibly diverse, ranging from cardiac arrest to ruptured eardrums. But when those reddish, fern-like patterns do appear, they tell a specific story about how electricity interacts with human biology.
Why the struck by lightning scar looks like a tree
Physics is weird. When high-voltage electricity hits an insulating material—like human skin—it seeks the path of least resistance. This process is known as a dielectric breakdown. As the current forces its way through, it creates a branching pattern that mirrors the way lightning itself moves through the atmosphere or how rivers carve out a delta.
These patterns aren't actually burns in the way we think of a sunburn or a kitchen accident. They are caused by the rupture of tiny capillaries beneath the skin.
When the lightning passes over the body—a phenomenon often called "flashover"—it causes a massive pressure wave. This surge of energy causes the red blood cells to leak out of the capillaries and into the surrounding tissue. Basically, it’s a very specific, very geometric bruise. Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, a leading expert on lightning injuries and professor emerita at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has spent decades explaining that these marks are not permanent. They aren't scars in the traditional sense because they usually fade within 24 to 48 hours.
You might see them on the arms, back, or chest. They follow the sweat or moisture on the skin because water conducts electricity better than dry tissue.
If you’ve ever seen a piece of wood that has been intentionally "burned" with high-voltage probes to create art, you’ve seen a Lichtenberg figure in a different medium. On a human, it’s just a more biological version of that same physical law. It's beautiful, in a terrifying sort of way, but it’s a sign of a high-energy event that almost killed the person wearing it.
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The flashover effect and skin moisture
Why doesn't everyone get cooked? It’s a miracle of physics.
When lightning hits a person, the electricity often travels over the surface of the body rather than through the internal organs. This is the "flashover." If your skin is sweaty or wet from rain, the current might glide across that moisture layer. This is actually a good thing. It can prevent the current from penetrating deep enough to stop the heart or fry the brain. However, that same moisture is what helps create the struck by lightning scar by channeling the energy into those fern-like shapes.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a coin toss. If the current goes internal, you’re looking at long-term neurological damage. If it stays external, you get the "flowers" and maybe some singed hair.
Medical complications beyond the visible marks
Don't let the "pretty" scars fool you. Lightning is a multi-system trauma.
While the Lichtenberg figure is the most famous visual, it’s rarely the most dangerous part of the experience. Lightning survivors often deal with "keraunoparalysis." This is a temporary paralysis caused by the intense overstimulation of the nervous system. Your legs might feel like lead, or you might lose sensation entirely for a few hours.
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Then there are the "true" burns.
- Linear burns: These happen in areas where sweat accumulates, like under the arms or around the chest. They look like thin, red lines.
- Punctate burns: These look like small, cigarette-burn-like spots, often found on the soles of the feet or the tips of the fingers where the current exited the body.
- Thermal burns: These occur when the lightning heats up metal objects you’re wearing. Think necklaces, zippers, or underwire bras. The metal gets so hot it literally sears the skin.
A fascinating study published in The Lancet described a case where a survivor had the pattern of his zipper perfectly seared onto his chest. It’s a grim reminder that anything conductive becomes a weapon when 300,000 volts are involved.
The neurological aftermath
The brain is an electrochemical organ. When you introduce a massive external current, things go haywire. Many survivors report "lightning brain"—a persistent fog that makes it hard to process information.
According to the Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors International (LSESSI), many people suffer from personality changes, depression, and memory loss long after their struck by lightning scar has faded. It’s a invisible injury. You look fine on the outside, but the internal wiring is frayed. Chronic pain is also incredibly common. Imagine your nerves being "tuned" to a higher frequency of pain sensitivity because they were overstimulated once in a massive way.
What to do if you see a Lichtenberg figure
If you are with someone who gets hit, first off, they don't carry a charge. You can touch them. That’s a common myth that kills people because bystanders are afraid to give CPR.
If you see those red, branching patterns starting to form, you need to get them to an ER immediately. Even if they are talking and seem "fine," lightning can cause delayed heart arrhythmias. The heart’s rhythm is controlled by its own electrical system, and a strike can knock it out of sync. A doctor will likely perform an EKG and check for myoglobin in the urine, which is a sign that muscle tissue is breaking down (rhabdomyolysis) and potentially clogging the kidneys.
Documenting the scar
From a purely clinical perspective, doctors often want to photograph these marks because they disappear so quickly. By the time a patient is discharged, the "lightning tree" might be gone. For the survivor, those photos are often the only proof of what happened to them, which can be important for psychological processing later on.
It’s weirdly therapeutic for some. Seeing the physical evidence of a near-death experience helps make the trauma feel real, especially when the internal symptoms like memory loss are so hard for others to see.
Debunking the permanent scar myth
You've probably seen photos on social media of people with deep, dark, permanent tattoos that look like lightning. Most of those are fake, or they are actual tattoos people got to commemorate the event.
A real struck by lightning scar (the Lichtenberg figure) is transient. It’s a vascular reaction. It’s not a keloid or a thick layer of scar tissue. If a survivor has permanent scarring, it’s usually from the thermal burns mentioned earlier—where their clothes caught fire or their jewelry melted.
The human body is surprisingly resilient, but lightning is an unpredictable force. No two strikes are the same. Some people walk away with nothing but a headache; others have their lives permanently altered.
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Actionable steps for safety and recovery
If you live in a lightning-prone area or spend a lot of time outdoors, understanding the reality of these injuries is vital.
- The 30/30 Rule: If you hear thunder within 30 seconds of a flash, get inside. Stay there for 30 minutes after the last roar of thunder. Most strikes happen before or after the peak of the storm.
- Seek specialized care: If you’ve been hit, don't just see a general practitioner. Look for a neurologist who understands electrical trauma. The long-term cognitive effects are often misdiagnosed as simple "stress" or "PTSD."
- Check your gear: If you're a hiker, remember that graphite trekking poles or metal-frame backpacks can contribute to "side flash," where the lightning jumps from a nearby object (like a tree) to you.
- Join a support group: Organizations like LSESSI provide resources for the specific brand of trauma that comes with surviving a strike. The psychological recovery is often much longer than the physical one.
The Lichtenberg figure is a hauntingly beautiful byproduct of a violent atmospheric event. It’s a map of the path electricity took through your skin. While it fades quickly, the impact of the strike remains. Treat any lightning event as a major medical emergency, regardless of how cool the skin looks in the moment. Physical recovery is just the first step in a much longer journey of neurological and emotional healing.