Newsletter October 2007

Keloid Scaring
Keloid Scaring, what is it? How did I get it? Can anything be done to remove it?

Developing an unsightly scar can be unnerving and certainly not something that most people would want to walk around with. Although science hasn’t yet figured out the exact cause of Keloids, there are quite a few treatment options that have been proven effective.

 A Keloid is essentially a scar that doesn’t know when to stop forming and can sometimes overshadow the original injury. Keloids are irregularly shaped and unlike normal scars, they do not subside over time. Keloids typically appear at the site of a surgery or injury, but there have been spontaneous occurrences sometimes associated with mild inflammations.

Keloids are generally dome shaped and are red to pink in color. They have a tendency to be itchy and even painful in some patients. Although these irregular scars can happen to anyone, they tend to be less common among children and the elderly, and more common among those with darker skin pigmentation. Some research shows a high occurrence rate associated with piercings.

Keloids can be difficult to treat and sometimes return larger than before. There are however several options for treatment depending greatly on the location of the scar. Some of the treatment options include…

Newer regimens are being developed and certain products that can help reduce keloid scarring are available at Miramar Dermatology/Skin and Cancer Associates, however patients must be motivated to follow up with a dermatologist after Keloid removal.