Keloid
Also Called Hypertrophic Scar or Keloid Scar
A keloid is a thick overgrowth of scar tissue at the site of a healed skin injury. They are caused by skin injuries such as:
- Acne
- Surgical incisions
- Vaccination sites
- Traumatic wounds
- Burns
- Chickenpox
- Minor scratches
They are fairly common in young women and African Americans. Keloids often run in families.
Keloidosis is a term used when multiple or repeated keloids occur.
Most keloids will flatten and become less noticeable over a period of several years. They may become irritated from rubbing on clothing or other forms of friction. Extensive keloids may become binding, limiting mobility. They may cause cosmetic changes and affect the appearance.
Exposure to the sun during the first year of the keloids formation will cause the keloid to tan darker than surrounding skin. This dark coloration may become permanent.
Some Symptoms of Keloid
A skin lesion that is:
- Flesh colored, red, or pink
- Located over the site of a wound, injury, or other lesion
- Nodular or ridged
- The lesion may itch during formation and growth
Diagnosis of Keloids
Diagnosis is made on the basis of the appearance of the skin or scar. A skin biopsy may be needed to rule out other skin growths (tumors).
Treatment of Keloids
Keloids often require no treatment. Keloids may be reduced in size by freezing (cryotherapy), external pressure, corticosteroid injections, laser treatments, radiation, or surgical removal. It is not unusual for keloids to reappear (sometimes larger than before) after they have been removed.
Discoloration from sun exposure can be prevented by covering the forming keloid with a patch or bandage, and by using sunblockers when spending time in the sun. These extras protection measures should be continued for at least 6 months after injury or surgery for an adult, up to 18 months for a child.
Keloids usually are not medically dangerous, but they may affect the cosmetic appearance. In some cases, they may spontaneously reduce in size over time. Removal or reduction may not be permanent, and surgical removal may result in a larger keloid scar.
Possible Complications
- Psychological distress if keloid is large or disfiguring
- Recurrence of keloid
- Discomfort, tenderness, irritation of the keloid
Call your health care provider if keloids develop and removal or reduction is desired, or new symptoms develop.
Keloid Formation & Tattoos
If you are prone to developing keloids - scars that grow beyond normal boundaries - you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin.
Keloids occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal - a quote from Micropigmentation: State of the Art - a book written by Charles Zwerling, M.D., Annette Walker, R.N., and Norman Goldstein, M.D.
References:
1) CFSAN/Office of Cosmetics and Colors - November 29, 2000; Revised July 1, 2004, April 11, 2006, and July 14, 2006 - www.cfsan.fda.gov/
2) National Library of Medicine (NLM) - October 2006 - medlineplus.gov