Keloid Scars
Why did my scar get thick and raised?
Keloid scars are thick, raised sometimes painful or itchy scars. Any trauma to the skin can cause a keloid scar. This can include a surgical or medical procedure, piercings, cuts, burns, tattoos, and even acne. Some people are more prone to developing keloid scars and not everyone will get one. Keloid scars will not turn into cancer, they do not cause any risk to your health.
It is hard to predict or determine who will get a keloid scar and when. Some people have a higher risk of developing keloids. People of African, Asian, or Hispanic decent have a higher likelihood of developing keloids compared to white people.
Treatment options for keloids vary, and their is no one best treatment. Treatments are often chosen by size of keloid, location of keloid and age of the patient.
- Steroid injections: Injecting a keloid with steroids can help reduce and shrink the size of the keloid. This can also help if the keloid is itchy and/or painful.
- Surgical removal: This is not always the best option, but for some keloids this can be the right decision. However, surgical removal is often combined with other treatments to prevent the keloid from growing back. Other combination treatments may include steroid injections, radiation therapy, or pressure therapy.
- Cryotherapy: This works best to reduce the thickness and hardness for small keloids.
- Topical therapy: Certain medicated creams or gels have been shown to reduce the size of a keloid. Some can be used post-operatively in keloid prone individuals.
- Silicone: This can be an effective treatment post-operatively in some patients.
- Imiquimod: A prescription medication that has been effective in reducing the size of some keloids.
- Laser therapy: Laser treatment can help reduce the size and appearance of larger or difficult to treat keloids.
Treatment can help improve the size of a keloid, but it will not remove the entire scar. Their is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating a keloid. If you have a keloid scar I will be happy to discuss with you what the best treatment option would be to improve its appearance.