Keloids are a sort of elevated scar that appears on the skin after an injury to the skin has healed – they can grow to be much bigger than the damage that created the scar in the first place.
A keloid can be caused by anything that can generate a scar – being burned, wounded, or suffering from severe acne are all examples of this; keloids can also form as a result of a body piercing, a tattoo, or surgery. This type of scarring can appear 3 months or more after the patient’s skin has been wounded and some will continue to grow for many years after.
Keloids signs and symptoms
The following characteristics can be seen in keloids:
- Slowly appear and grow. The initial signs of a keloid can appear anywhere from three months to a year. It takes weeks or months for it to grow after that. They can sometimes grow slowly for years at a time.
- Begin with a pink, crimson, or purple scar that is elevated. Typically, a keloid is a raised scar with a flat surface. With time, the hue starts to darken. It is usually darker than the person’s complexion, with the border darker than the centre.
- Feel different from the skin around you. Some keloids have a mushy, doughy texture. Others are tough and rubbery.
- Pain, itching, or discomfort may occur. Some keloids can be itchy, irritating, or painful to the touch as they grow. When the keloid stops growing, these symptoms usually go away.
Keloids can appear on any part of the body. The neck, shoulders, chest, back, and ears are the most commonly affected areas. They might be as small as an inch or as large as 12 inches or more.
What’s the cause of Keloids?
People’s cells try to restore their skin by generating a scar if it is harmed. Scar tissue continues to grow in some people even after the wound has healed. The additional scar tissue forms a keloid, which is an elevated region on the skin.
Keloid formation can be caused by a variety of skin injuries. These are some of them:
- Cuts
- Wounds
- Scars from surgery
- A severe case of acne
- Chicken pox
- Insect bites
- Injections
- Piercings
- Tattoos
When some people scar, they are more likely to develop a keloid that others. If your patient has any of the following conditions, they are more prone to develop a keloid:
- If they are African-American, Latino, or Asian
- Under the age of thirty
- Expecting a child
- If they are going through puberty
- If them or their family have a history of keloids
How is it diagnosed?
By examining the skin, you can determine if your patient has a keloid. To rule out other types of skin growths, a skin biopsy can be conducted.
How do you treat keloid scars?
The goal of treatment is to get the keloid to flatten, soften, or shrink. Keloids can be difficult to remove. They may reappear following treatment. For the best outcomes, many doctors will utilise a mix of treatments. The following are some of the treatments:
- Shots of corticosteroids – The medicine in these shots aids in scar reduction.
- PRP Treatment – Scar therapy with PRP injections reduces or eliminates scars by activating fibroblasts and keratinocytes, which are connective tissue and epidermal cells. New collagen is formed when these skin-related cells are produced in higher numbers. A popular product used by many practitioners and clinics is RegenLab’s Dermal RegenKit.
- Freezing – Cryotherapy is a procedure that can be used to lessen the hardness and size of a keloid. It is most effective on tiny keloids.
- Covering the scar with silicone sheets or gel – This may aid in the flattening of the keloid.
- Laser therapy – A type of treatment can aid in the flattening of the keloid. It might also cause the colour to fade.
- Surgical removal – This entails removing the keloid. After this treatment, the majority of keloids will recur.
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