Keloid
A Keloid is a type of scar with mainly type I and some type III collagen which results in an overgrowth of tissue at the site of a healed skin injury. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules, and can vary from pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown in color. A keloid scar is benign, non-contagious, and usually accompanied by severe itchiness, sharp pains, and changes in texture. In severe cases, it can affect movement of skin.
Keloids should not be confused with hypertrophic scars, which are raised scars that do not grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound.
As wounds heal, scar tissue forms, which at first is often red and somewhat prominent. Over several months, a scar usually becomes flat and pale. If there is a lot of tension on a healing wound, the healing area is rather thicker than usual. This is known as a hypertrophic scar.
Treatment
Hypertrophic scars generally settle in time but keloids may prove resistant to treatment. The following measures are helpful.
Dressings should be worn for 12 to 24 hours per day, for at least 8 to 12 weeks, and perhaps for much longer.
- Polyurethane or silicone scar reduction patches
- Silicone gel
- Pressure dressings
- Surgical excision (but may result in a second keloid even larger than the original one)
- Corticosteroid injection, repeated every few weeks
- Cryotherapy
- Superficial X-ray treatment soon after surgery.
- Pulsed dye laser
