Learn About Keloids
A keloid is a growth of extra scar tissue. It occurs where the skin has healed after an injury.
Keloid scar; Scar - keloid
Keloids can form after skin injuries from:
- Acne
- Burns
- Chickenpox
- Ear or body piercing
- Minor scratches
- Cuts from surgery or trauma
- Vaccination sites
Keloids are most common in people younger than 30. Black people, Asians, and Hispanics are more prone to developing keloids. Keloids often run in families. Sometimes, a person may not recall what injury caused a keloid to form.
A keloid may be:
- Flesh-colored, red, or pink
- Located over the site of a wound or injury
- Lumpy or ridged
- Tender and itchy
- Irritated from friction such as rubbing on clothing
A keloid will tan darker than the skin around it if exposed to the sun during the first year after it forms. The darker color may not go away.
Keloids often do not need treatment. If the keloid bothers you, discuss your concern with a skin doctor (dermatologist). The doctor may recommend these treatments to reduce the size of the keloid:
- Corticosteroid injections
- Freezing (cryotherapy)
- Laser treatments
- Radiation
- Surgical removal
- Silicone gel or patches
These treatments, especially surgery, sometimes cause the keloid scar to become larger.
Regents Of The Univ Of Ca
Kathleen Romanowski is a General Surgeon in French Camp, California. Dr. Romanowski and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Keloids. Her top areas of expertise are Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Frostbite, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, and Keloids. Dr. Romanowski is currently accepting new patients.
Regents Of The Univ Of Ca
Tina Palmieri is a General Surgeon and an Intensive Care Medicine provider in French Camp, California. Dr. Palmieri and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Keloids. Her top areas of expertise are Frostbite, Keloids, Ear Barotrauma, and Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction.
Regents Of The Univ Of Ca
Soman Sen is a General Surgeon and an Intensive Care Medicine provider in French Camp, California. Dr. Sen and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Keloids. His top areas of expertise are Keloids, Frostbite, Compartment Syndrome, and Malnutrition.
Keloids usually are not harmful to your health, but they may affect how you look.
Contact your health care provider if:
- You develop keloids and want to have them removed or reduced
- You develop new symptoms
When you are in the sun:
- Cover a keloid that is forming with a patch or adhesive bandage.
- Use sunblock.
Continue to follow these steps for at least 6 months after injury or surgery for adults. Children may need up to 18 months of prevention.
Imiquimod cream may help prevent keloids from forming after surgery. The cream may also prevent keloids from returning after they are removed.
Summary: Scars can be caused by physical trauma, surgical incisions, burn injuries and even acne. Deep cutaneous injuries induce pathological scars. Other factors, such as mechanical loading, bacterial colonization are potential factors thought to underlie human hypertrophic and keloid scar formation or contractures. The effect may include functional impairment and aesthetic disadvantages. Various non-inva...
Summary: Measuring the volumes of hypertrophic scars and keloids, two specific kind of scars, over different points in time in patients who have undergone surgery and evaluate 3D-cameras as a possible measuring and documenting tool including volumetry.
Published Date: November 18, 2022
Published By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Dinulos JGH. Benign skin tumors. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 20.
Patterson JW. Disorders of collagen. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 12.