Keloids
What causes Keloids?
When skin is injured, fibrous tissue, called scar tissue, forms over the wound to repair and protect the injury. In some cases, scar tissue grows excessively, forming smooth, hard growths called keloids. Those with darkly pigmented skin are more prone to keloids.
What are the triggers of keloids?
The most common skin injury types which can contribute to keloid scarring include the following:
- acne scars, burns, chicken pox scars, ear piercing ,scratches, surgical incision sites and vaccination sites
- Rarely keloids may occur without any trigger.
What do they look like?
Keloids are usually deep red lesions growing well beyond the borders of the original wound. They can be itchy and painful. Although they can occur anywhere on the body, keloids are commonly found on the chest, shoulders, earlobes, and cheeks.
Should I seek treatment?
Reasons to pursue treatment for keloids include aesthetic concerns related to the psychological stress of cosmetic disfigurement especially if it visible to everyone or the physical complaints of pain and pruritus.
How Is the Condition Treated?
Keloid therapy requires commitment from the patient as multiple and frequent visits to the doctor may be required to prove effective.
Examples of keloid treatments include:
- corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation
- using pressure or silicone gel pads after injury
- freezing the tissue to kill skin cells
- injecting of chemotherapy drugs to kill the cells
- laser treatments to reduce scar tissue
- radiation to shrink keloids
Initially, the doctor will assess the extent of your keloid and then recommend a treatment plan for you.
Treatment for keloids can be challenging as the keloid scarring is the result of the body’s attempt to repair itself. After removing the keloid, the scar tissue may grow back again, and sometimes it grows back larger than before but there are ways to try and prevent the recurrence.
