KeloidsSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Keloids Overview
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 specialist (dermatologist). Your dermatologist 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.
Henry Ford Cancer-Detroit
David Ozog is a Dermatologist practicing medicine in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Ozog is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Keloids. He is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Keloids, Muir-Torre Syndrome, Basal Cell Skin Cancer, and Bowen's Disease.
Donald Glass is a Dermatologist practicing medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Glass is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Keloids. He is also highly rated in 21 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Keloids, Comedones, Vitiligo, and Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Gold Skin Care Center PLC
Michael Gold is a Dermatologist practicing medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Gold is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Keloids. He is also highly rated in 25 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Acne, Keloids, Athlete's Foot, and Comedones.
Keloids usually are not harmful to your health, but they may affect how you look.
Contact your 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: Keloids have a strong genetic component. The goal of this study is to identify genes and regulatory elements on chromosomes that are the cause for keloids or contribute to keloid scarring.
Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how well intralesional 5 fluorouracil with cryotherapy works to treat keloids as compared to intralesional 5 fluorouracil alone on keloids. It will also learn about the safety of both these treatments. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What well does cryotherapy followed by intralesional 5 fluorouracil (5FU) work to treat keloids as compared to...
Published Date: October 13, 2024
Published By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Machan S, Molina-Ruiz AM, Requena L. Dermal hypertrophies. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 98.
Patterson JW. Disorders of collagen. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 12.