Why are keloids scars formed?

Keloids are formed when the healing process that place after injury, gets overactive. Keloids and hypertrophic scars represent an excessive tissue response to dermal injury characterized by local fibroblast proliferation and overproduction of collagen.Dark skinned individuals are more prone to keloid formation. Following types of injuries can contribute to formation of keloids:

• Burns
• Surgical incision sites
• Acne scars
• Chicken-pox scars
• Ear piercing
• Scratches
• Vaccination sites

What are the symptoms of keloids?

They are skin colored to hyperpigmented or erythematous raised nodular scars. Most of smaller lesions are asymptomatic while larger lesions can have itching or pain. There is strong tendency of recurrence.

How are keloids scars treated?

Keloids can be difficult to get rid of, and some return after treatment. Following are the treatment options:

• Silicon or onion extract creams: They can be used for smaller new lesions to prevent further growth. They are minimally effective in old matured lesions.
• Silicon get sheets: Sometimes these gel sheets are beneficial in reducing size and thickness of lesion. They need to apply for certain hours in a day for 3-4 months. They are useful in linear ans small lesions.
• Intralesional injection: Keloids or hypertrophic scars are usually treated by intralesional steroid or 5FU injection. When injected into the keloid, these medicines help to shrink the scar. Usually, 3-4 treatments are required, 3-4 weeks apart.
• Cryotherapy: Here, the lesionis frozen using a probe containing liquid nitrogen. It can be a bit painful. Following the treatment, a blister forms around the keloid and it falls of along with the dead tissue eventually in 1-2 weeks.
• CO2 Laser Scar treatment:Raised scars can also be treated by Co2 laser treatment. This will reduce thickness of keloid or hypertrophic scar, making it less noticeable. CO2 laser treatment for raised scars can be combined with intralesional injections of steroid and 5 FU to get faster results and prevent recurrences.

Surgical excision:It is least preferred option specially for keloids because of high tendency of recurrence. Ear lobe keloids are generally treated by surgical excision. Surgery is followed by injections of steroids at edges of wound to prevent recurrence.

TIPS

• Keep a note of tendency of having exagerated wound healing process in your body.
• Always share with your doctor before any surgical procedure about this tendency.
• Smaller & ealry lesions can be treated with medical treatment or silicon gel sheets at home.
• If you are having increase in size of lesion, itching in lesion or wound in lesion then you should visit your dermatologist.
• If you are having increase in size of lesion, itching in lesion or wound in lesion then you should visit your dermatologist.
• Don’t try un-approved things for treatment at home.