KELOIDS
A keloid scar is a thick raised scar. It can occur wherever you have a skin injury but usually forms on earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or the chest. If you’re prone to developing keloids, you might get them in more than one place.
A keloid scar isn’t harmful to your physical health, but it can cause emotional distress. Prevention or early treatment is key.
A keloid scar isn’t harmful to your physical health, but it can cause emotional distress. Prevention or early treatment is key.
Symptoms
A keloid scar may form within months to years of the inciting injury. Signs and symptoms might include:
- Thick, irregular scarring, typically on the earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or middle chest
- Shiny, hairless, lumpy, raised skin
- Varied size, depending on the size of the original injury and when the keloid stops growing
- Varied texture, from soft to firm and rubbery
- Reddish, brown or purplish, depending on your skin color
- Itchiness
- Discomfort
Causes
Experts don’t completely understand what causes keloid scars. But most agree it’s likely a dysfunction of the wound-healing process. Collagen — a protein found throughout the body — is useful to wound healing, but when the body produces too much, keloids can form.
Keloid growth might be triggered by any sort of skin injury — an insect bite, acne, an injection, body piercing, burns, hair removal, and even minor scratches and bumps. Sometimes keloids form for no obvious reason.
A keloid is different from a hypertrophic scar. A hypertrophic scar stays within the bounds of the original wound.
Keloid growth might be triggered by any sort of skin injury — an insect bite, acne, an injection, body piercing, burns, hair removal, and even minor scratches and bumps. Sometimes keloids form for no obvious reason.
A keloid is different from a hypertrophic scar. A hypertrophic scar stays within the bounds of the original wound.
Prevention
If you’re prone to developing keloids, take these preventive self-care tips:
- Protect your skin from injury. Try to avoid injuring your skin. Consider not getting body piercings, tattoos and elective surgeries. Even minor injuries — such as ingrown hairs, cuts and scratches — can incite a keloid to grow.
- If you decide to undergo surgery, talk with your doctor about your tendency to develop keloids. Your doctor can use surgical techniques that reduce the risk of developing keloids at the surgical site. After surgery, ask your doctor about postoperative care and follow the instructions carefully.
Treatment
Keloid scar treatment is possible. If you don’t like how a keloid looks or feels, talk with a doctor about how to flatten or remove it. Even with treatment, a keloid can last for years or recur.
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