How to Get Rid of Keloids

The skin is considered to be most delicate organ of human body. Every person dreams to have scar free skin but this is not possible for everyone. Majority of the people have some scars on their skin which may appear due to disturbances of the skin cells because of application of skin care products. First of all one needs to define what a scar is?

How to Get Rid of Keloids

“The appearance of mark on the wounded skin when it undergoes a healing process is called a scar”.

Some time is required to have re-appearance of normal skin in replacement of scar. The time it takes to grow normal skin in place of a scar normally depends on the type of scar. So how do you get rid of keloids?

The most common types of scars are: Hypertrophic and Keloids. Both of these appear with the bundled growth of excessive stiff collagen overextending the tissue.

One must not be confused between both types of scars.

• Hypertrophic Scar

A slight raise of scar from the normal skin level is generally known as hypertrophic scar. This type of scar will never try to grow from its original wound. They may be pink to flesh colored and normally appear in shoulders, neck, ankle and knees.

• Keloid Scar

It is almost similar to hypertrophic scars but the major difference is that it starts growing beyond the edges of the wound or incision. It normally appears in red or darker color. They mostly appear on the skin in the following areas of the body: chest, shoulders, earlobes, upper arms, cheeks, palm, eyelids etc.

It would not be wrong to say that keloids are the chronicle form of scars. The following discussion will be done with reference to keloid scars only.

Keloid scars generally start appearing at the ages between the ages of 10 to 30 years. African, American and Asian people generally get keloid scars.

Infected areas of skin by keloids

There is no defined area of skin where keloid scars generally start appearing. Mostly the skin around chest, shoulders, earlobes, eyelids, ankle, feet and cheeks etc is infected.

It is formed within a scar tissue caused by burn, surgical incision, chemical injuries, insect bites, pimples, skin wounds, accident, body piercing and acne. It doesn’t appear suddenly on the skin, but mostly appears due to irritation or itching on the skin.

This can be transferred genetically between families, so this can be called a contagious disease. Doctors are still trying to find the exact reason of its wide spread in humans.

If any of the above mentioned symptoms appear on the skin of the patient, then he/ she must seek dermatological advice and should undertake the prescribed treatment.

Keloids can appear in both sexes, however the tendency of growth is higher in women than men.

Normally, it may grow slowly for weeks, months or years. However, proper treatment can stop it from extending over the skin. A patient may have to undergo multiple surgical procedures for its cure. But it is not always guaranteed that it may be fully recovered or removed.

Exam and test

A doctor will normally refer a patient to have skin test called biopsy which is used to analyze the infected skin area and the treatment will be done accordingly.

Prevention

A famous proverb is that “prevention is better than cure”. By adopting the following preventive measures, one can have scar free skin.

• Don’t expose keloid scars to sun
• Don’t wound skin with piercing or tattoos
• Use an elastic tape after skin operation
• Use corticosteroid injections after skin treatment
• Don’t stretch or pull the skin that is infected by keloid scars

How to Know a Scar Is Turning Into a Keloid

Not every raised scar becomes a keloid. The earliest clue is growth that continues after the wound itself has closed. If a scar keeps rising, widening, or itching for weeks or months, it may be developing into a keloid. Watch for color changes too: keloids often turn pink, purple, or darker than the surrounding skin. A soft, flat scar that slowly becomes firm, rubbery, or doughy is another warning sign. Catching this early matters because smaller, newer keloids tend to respond better to treatment than large, established ones.

Why Keloids Often Return After Treatment

Keloids are caused by an overactive healing response, not by leftover scar tissue. Because the skin’s collagen production stays in overdrive, removing a keloid surgically can sometimes trigger the body to build an even larger one. This is why dermatologists often pair treatments. Surgery may be followed by steroid injections, silicone sheets, or radiation to lower the chance of recurrence. Cryotherapy and laser therapy can shrink the keloid, but they also work best as part of a broader plan. Patients should expect a long-term management approach rather than a single cure.

Daily Skin Care Habits for Keloid-Prone Skin

People who develop keloids should treat their skin gently every day. Clean new wounds with mild soap and water, then cover them with a silicone gel sheet or silicone-based dressing for several weeks. Keep healing skin out of the sun, since UV exposure can darken scars and make them more noticeable. Avoid unnecessary piercings, tattoos, and elective cosmetic procedures on areas where keloids have formed before. If a blemish, insect bite, or acne spot becomes irritated, resist scratching or picking, because repeated inflammation can encourage keloid growth.