Keloid Scars

Keloid scars are an overgrowth of scar tissue. The scar will grow beyond the site of the injury. These scars are generally red or pink and will become a dark tan over time. They occur when the body continues to produce collagen a tough fibrous protein, after the wound has healed. Keloid scars are thick, nodular, ridged and itchy during formation and growth. Extensive keloids may become binding and limit your mobility. Additionally, clothing rubbing or other types of friction may irritate them. Dark-skinned people are more likely to develop Keloids than those with fair skin and the possible occurrence of Keloids reduces with age.

Keloids may be reduced in size by cryotherapy (freezing), external pressure, cortisone injections, steroid injections, radiation or surgical removal. If injections and external pressure such as pressure garments are inadequate, the scar tissue can be cut away, this is generally an outpatient surgery performed under local anesthesia and you should be able to return to work or school within a few days. Your doctor may recommend that you wear pressure garments over the area for up to a year to prevent the Keloids from re-occurring. It is possible that this procedure will need to be repeated every few years because Keloids have a tendency to re-occur.