treatyourscars They appear as raised lesions of scar tissue on the skin and are the result of an overgrowth of fibrous tissue in the area where acne lesions have developed. They are most commonly found on the chest, back, and shoulders, where the skin is thickest, although they can also occur around the jawline. They can develop after very light skin lesions, such as acne or piercings, and spread beyond the original area of the skin injury. Keloids usually appear after surgery or injury, but they can also be the result of minor inflammation, such as a pimple on the chest (even one that hasn’t been scratched or otherwise irritated).
Keloid scars can form where the skin has been damaged by surgical incisions, burns, chickenpox, or acne. Keloid scars can form where the skin is damaged, such as surgical incisions, piercings, burns, chickenpox, or pimples. In some cases, additional scar tissue can grow to form smooth, hard growths called keloids. Keloid scars grow very slowly, but unlike other scars, they do not shrink or heal on their own.
Initially, your doctor may recommend less invasive treatments such as silicone pads, pressure bandages, or injections, especially if the keloid is new enough. When trying to treat keloids, your doctor may need to use more than one treatment.
Read also: Do Keloid Scars Keep Growing?
To prevent keloids from developing after minor skin trauma, start treatment right away. You can prevent keloids from forming by taking steps to protect your skin after it has been damaged.
Keloids can also develop after piercing, tattooing, or surgery. Keloid growth can be caused by any damage to the skin: insect bites, acne, injection, piercings, burns, hair removal, and even minor scratches and bumps. This means that a small wound such as a pinprick, such as an insect bite, stitch or ear piercing, can develop into a large keloid scar.
No one knows the root cause of abnormal healing in keloids; it is an area of ongoing research. A keloid is a raised scar that appears when the skin heals after an injury. On the chest, legs, or arms, keloids are most likely raised scars with a flat surface.
A keloid (say, “KEE-faithful”) is a scar that becomes larger and wider than the original lesion. A keloid is a raised scar that results from injury or damage to the skin. Keloid and hypertrophic scars are caused by skin lesions and irritations, including trauma, insect bites, burns, surgery, vaccinations, skin piercings, acne, folliculitis, chickenpox, and herpes zoster infections.
Genetic Risk Factors That Increase Skin Inflammation Some patients with keloid and hypertrophic scars have a family history of abnormal scars, suggesting that these scars may be caused by genetic factors. In addition, there is clinical evidence that dark-skinned patients are 15 times more likely to develop pathological scars (mainly keloids) than light-skinned patients [10]. In addition, the activation of pro-inflammatory factors in pathological scars suggests that keloids and hypertrophic scars are not skin cancers, but inflammatory skin diseases, especially inflammatory diseases of the reticular dermis.
Thus, hypertrophic scars and keloids may actually be manifestations of the same fibroproliferative skin disorder, differing only in the intensity and duration of inflammation [1,2]. For example, some people with acne scars may only develop atrophic scars, which are flat, shallow depressions in the skin, while others with acne scars may develop keloids. Hormonal imbalances, such as during puberty, pregnancy, or conditions such as an overactive thyroid, can also make you more likely to develop keloids.
Keloid scars vary in size but are usually painless and contain nothing but scar tissue. Keloid scars grow because the body is overprotective from physical injury, surgery, or skin damage. Even untreated, keloids shrink and flatten over time.
But treatment can be helpful if the keloid scar causes discomfort or impedes movement (for example, if it covers a joint or a large area). People may also seek keloid treatment if the scar is affecting their self-esteem and the way they feel about their appearance.
Appropriate treatment options depend on several factors, including the type and size of the keloid. Dermatologists typically choose treatments individually based on factors such as age and the type of keloid scar.
Keloid scars are difficult to get rid of completely, and using more than one treatment method often improves results. Surgery Surgery is often combined with other treatments, such as corticosteroid injections or silicone treatments; according to the AAD, this is because keloids develop in almost 100% of cases after surgical removal.
Injections of corticosteroids, such as triamcinolone acetonide, can help reduce the size of the keloid scar when given approximately 4 weeks apart. Compression bandages around the keloid scar or squeezing earrings applied continuously for 6–12 months, can significantly reduce the keloid by reducing blood flow to the affected area.
This surgical procedure may be performed to reduce the size of large keloid scars before starting regular steroid treatment. During surgery, your dermatologist may remove excess scar tissue and use skin grafts from another area of your body to aid healing. As with surgical excision, there is a risk that the treatment may lead to an increase in scar tissue in that area, but pressure dressings after the procedure can help reduce this risk.
If you are prone to developing keloids, you should be vigilant and take steps to prevent these scars from forming. If you decide to take the risk of getting a tattoo or piercing, be aware that you may end up with excessive scarring and/or keloids. It is best to avoid scarring your skin by avoiding piercings, tattoos, elective surgeries, and some laser treatments.
If your primary concern is to prevent keloids from developing, McGregor recommends that you investigate your family or personal history of keloids to help prevent injury or skin damage. The AAD recommends avoiding piercings for people who know they are prone to keloids. Laser treatment of keloids For certain types of scars, including some keloids, your doctor may recommend laser treatment.
Laser treatments can help the keloid and the area around the keloid appear smoother and more even-looking. However, there is a risk that laser treatment can aggravate keloids, causing increased scarring and redness. But sometimes, for reasons not yet fully understood, your skin can overreact to damage, causing scar tissue to grow that rarely goes away on its own.
But overproduction of skin components, such as collagen, during wound healing, can lead to keloid formation. In response to injury, skin cells called fibroblasts produce excess collagen, which can lead to the formation of keloid scars. Collagen is a protein that is found throughout the body and is good for wound healing, but when the body produces too much collagen, keloids can form.
