A keloid is a growth that presents where the skin has healed from an injury. Keloids can be painful, itchy, and they often look different than normal scars. Keloids can run in families, and the likelihood of developing keloids increases if someone in your family gets keloids. Keloids can form after any injury or procedure that creates a break in the skin such as deep cuts, acne, surgical scars, and piercings. Keloids most commonly develop on the ears, neck, jaw, chest, shoulders, and upper back.
What is the treatment?
Steroid injections: Your dermatologist can administer a steroid injection into the site of the keloid to reduce the inflammation and flatten the scar. Steroid injections can take multiple treatments based on the size and depth of the scar.
Surgery: For complex keloids, your dermatologist might recommend surgical removal to remove the keloid followed by a steroid shot to prevent the keloid from growing back.
Silicone gel pads: Silicone gel or silicone gel pads can be used on minor keloids to ease some symptoms and possibly prevent the keloids from getting worse.
Laser and/or radiation: High doses of X-rays or strong lights can be used to destroy and prevent recurrence of keloids.
Keloids can be very hard to treat and often come back after treatment. Work with our dermatologists to determine a customized plan to treat your keloids.
