Keloid Scars - what they are and best treatments

Definition of Keloid Scar

Keloids are an overgrowth of tissue that scars at the healed part of the skin injury. Sometimes, keloids scar are also called Hypertrophic scar. the absolute best way to handle a keloid scar is with a microderm abrasion cream and a healing blend of three specific oils.

You can read more about it on the scar treatments page.

Description

Thick, puckered, itchy clustering scars and tissues beyond the edges of the wound or incisions can easily be described as Keloid scars. These are caused by the continuous production of a substance called Collagen even after the wound has been healed. Keloid scars may appear on any part of an injury but mostly occurs in the breastbone area, on the earlobes, and on shoulders. A dark-skinned person is more likely to suffer from keloid scarring compared to people with fair complexion. But with aging, it lessens its tendency to develop.

Within several years, most keloids eventually flatten and become less noticeable. Keloids may also develop irritation from rubbing on clothing or any other form of friction. Extensive scarring may even become a burden in the case of the mobility of a person. It may cause changes of the skin and affect its appearance.

Exposure to the sun may also effect the keloids pigmentation. It may turn darker than its surrounding skin. Moreover, this dark colorization may become permanent.

Causes of Keloid scar

Keloid scar usually occurs in the form of skin injuries such as wounds, surgical incisions, vaccinations, burns, chickenpox, acne and even the slightest of minor scratches. Commonly, keloids occur in young women, and African Americans. These types of skin issues may also run in families. A term Keloidosis is used when there are multiple, or repeated occurrence of keloids.

Keloid Treatment

There are 3 noted treatments for keloid removal. Often, they are treated when health care professionals inject steroid to reduce characteristics such as redness of the skin, itching, and burning. Shrinking of the scar is hoped for in some cases. This is the non-surgical treatment.

However, the surgical removal of a keloid is used if there is no chance for a steroid treatment. The tissue of the scar will be cut out and the wound stitched with a single or multiple layers of stitches to close the wound. This is usually done as an outpatient procedure and can be performed under local anesthetics. You will be back to work within a day or two and the stitches are removed after a few days.

The last approach in removing a rasied scar is by using both or a mixture of surgical and steroid injections. First, a surgery or removal of the tissue is done with a couple of steroid injections and another set of steroid injections after three to four weeks. Radiation is also used to interfere with the collagen production. This approach is more effective. But, radiotherapy and steroid both have side effects, so you need to discuss this with your doctor. It is also effective to get a second opinion before proceeding with this treatment.

Whatever approach you take, keloid scars have a stubborn habit of recurring, and to make it worse, become larger than before. The most used and offered removal is by steroid injection, direct application of steroids during surgery, or by radiation therapy. Sometimes, you may be asked to wear a pressure garment within the area as long as a year. Even with these precautions, this type of scar may reappear, requiring a repetition of procedures after every few years.

Keloid alternative treatment

There are creams available in the market for skin care. These products can help to heal, and nullify spreading and itching of a keloid without steroids or injections and bypasses the risks of surgery.