Keloid Treatments
- Intralesional Corticosteroids. Intralesional (injected) corticosteroids are usually the first type of therapy...
- Surgical Excision. In a surgical excision, a scalpel (a sharp surgical blade) is used to remove the keloid.
- Silicone Gel Sheeting. Silicone gel sheets are sticky clear sheets placed over scars. They allow oxygen to pass through...
What is the most effective treatment for keloids?
Treatments include the following:
- Corticosteroid shots. The medicine in these shots helps shrink the scar.
- Freezing the scar. Called cryotherapy, this can be used to reduce the hardness and size of the keloid. It works best on small keloids.
- Wearing silicone sheets or gel over the scar. This can help flatten the keloid.
- Laser therapy. This can help flatten the keloid. It also can fade the
How can I get rid of a keloid?
To get rid of keloids, try applying aloe vera gel on your keloids at least twice a day, which can help reduce scarring. You can also rub lemon juice over your keloids twice a day, as this lightens the top layer of skin and reduces the appearance of scars.
Are there non-surgical ways to get rid of keloids?
Non-Surgical Treatment Retinoid Creams. Your dermatologist will prescribe a retinoid cream, which will help reduce the size and appearance of the keloid alike. Corticosteroids and Injections. Skin experts inject medicines into a keloid not only to shrink the size, but also to make it soft, and relieve symptoms. Ligature. ... Cryotherapy. ... Laser Treatment. ...
How to shrink keloids naturally?
What You Have To Do
- Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a smooth paste.
- Apply this paste to the affected area using a cotton ball and leave it on for 20 minutes.
- Rinse it off with water.
How do you get rid of keloids on wounds?
Wash the area immediately with soap and water. Keeping the wound clean helps to reduce scarring. ... Bandage the area with sterile petrolatum gauze. ... Gently cleanse the wound every day until it heals. ... Protect the wounded skin from the sun. ... As soon as the wound heals, begin using silicone sheets or gel.
What shrinks a keloid?
Medical treatments Retinoid cream is a derivative of vitamin A, or retinol. Much like natural remedies such as garlic or onion, the cream has been clinically proven to reduce keloid appearance. Silicone gel or sheets may be a go-to recommendation from your doctor.
Do surgery keloids go away?
Keloids tend to shrink and become flatter over time, even without treatment. Initially, your doctor will probably recommend less-invasive treatments, such as silicone pads, pressure dressings, or injections, especially if the keloid scar is a fairly new one.
Why did my incision keloid?
Collagen — a protein found throughout the body — is useful to wound healing, but when the body produces too much, keloids can form. Keloid growth might be triggered by any sort of skin injury — an insect bite, acne, an injection, body piercing, burns, hair removal, and even minor scratches and bumps.
How do you flatten a keloid?
Treatments that may help flatten a keloid scar include:steroid injections.applying steroid-impregnated tape for 12 hours a day.applying silicone gel sheeting for several months.
Does Vaseline help keloids?
Using the following tips to treat the area may help prevent keloid growth. Cover a new wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage. Hold the bandage in place with tape so that there is even pressure on the wound. Wash the area with soap and water every day.
Does scar cream work on keloids?
People should use the creams regularly and cover the scar as the wound is healing. Although creams containing onion extract or Vitamin E are widely used for scars, a review in American Family Physician and a study in Dermatologic Surgery found that these ingredients have not been shown to help with keloids.
What is inside a keloid?
It is a result of an overgrowth of granulation tissue (collagen type 3) at the site of a healed skin injury which is then slowly replaced by collagen type 1. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules, and can vary from pink to the color of the person's skin or red to dark brown in color.
Does Mederma work on keloids?
Limited clinical trials have failed to demonstrate lasting improvement of established keloids and hypertrophic scars with onion extract topical gel (e.g., Mederma) or topical vitamin E.
Should I be worried about keloids?
Some people may be worried that keloids are cancerous because of their size and discoloration; however, keloids are benign. They are mainly a cosmetic concern. While keloids don't cause pain, they can be very itchy and can cause discomfort if they rub against clothing or affect movement around joints.
What is the procedure to remove a keloid?
If a keloid looks like a worrisome skin growth, a dermatologist may perform a skin biopsy. This involves removing a small section so that it can studied under a microscope. A dermatologist can quickly and easily remove a small section during an office visit.
What to do after keloid surgery?
Pressure earring, dressing, or garment: This is often used after keloid surgery. Putting pressure on the area reduces blood flow, which can stop a keloid from returning. Between 90% and 100% of patients who use this treatment as directed after keloid surgery can prevent another keloid.
How to remove a keloid from the earlobe?
It is often recommended after a dermatologist removes a keloid from an earlobe. Laser treatment: This can reduce the height and fade the color of a keloid. It’s often used along with another treatment like a series of corticosteroid injections or pressure.
How often do you get a keloid injection?
Patients usually receive a series of injections once every three to four weeks. On average, patients return about four times for these injections. The first injections tend to relieve symptoms and make the keloid feel softer. Between 50% and 80% of keloids shrink after being injected.
How to reduce keloid size?
It’s used to reduce the hardness and size of a keloid. Cryotherapy works best on small keloids. Having a few cryotherapy treatments before (or after) receiving injections of corticosteroids may reduce the size of a keloid. This can make the injections more effective.
When to start radiation treatment after keloid surgery?
Patients may begin radiation treatments immediately after keloid surgery, the next day, or a week later. Radiation may also be used alone to reduce the size of a keloid. Results, however, tend to be better when it’s used after keloid surgery.
Do keloids return after surgery?
While this may seem like a permanent solution, it’s important to know that nearly 100% of keloids return after this treatment. To reduce the risk of a keloid returning after surgical removal, dermatologists often treat patients with another keloid treatment after the surgery.
What is the best treatment for a keloid?
Tubigrip. Cryotherapy: designed to freeze the keloid from the inside out while saving the skin beneath the keloid. Working best on small keloids, this treatment is used to reduce the hardness and size of a keloid. Laser treatment: used to reduce the height and color of a keloid.
How to heal a keloids wound?
This may help your skin heal faster and reduce your risk of scarring. Gently wash the wound and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Cover the wound with a sterile bandage to apply constant and even pressure. If you are prone to keloids, piercings and tattoos are strongly discouraged.
How to treat keloid scars?
Treatment methods such as silicone gel sheets, cryotherapy, pressure therapy, & more may help flatten a keloid.
What causes a keloid scar?
There are several skin injuries that can cause a keloid scar such as severe acne , puncture wounds, piercings, tattoos & surg ical scars (C-section or hysterectomy) The goal of keloid scar treatment is to relieve symptoms and improve the look & feel of the raised overgrowth of scar tissue. Keloid scars can be difficult to treat or prevent ...
How to stop a keloid from returning?
This process is what the body uses to rebuild deeply wounded skin. Pressure therapy: applying pressure to the area reduces blood flow, which can stop a keloid from returning.
Where do keloids develop?
Once a keloid stops growing, symptoms usually stop. Keloids develop most often on the chest, back, shoulders, and earlobes.
How to remove a keloid?
It’s often used along with another treatment like a series of corticosteroid injections or pressure. Surgical removal: this treatment involves surgically cutting out the keloid. Most keloids will return after this treatment.
What is the best treatment for keloids?
Steroid injections. Injections of steroidal anti-inflammatories have been known to help with keloids. However, these have been shown to be more effective following major treatment for keloids. This includes surgical scar removal, laser treatment, and more, as noted in a 2014 study. Trusted Source.
How to treat keloids?
suggest that the topical use of aspirin pills may help treat keloids. Research found that aspirin prevents scar-promoting cells from entering the keloid site when applied. This way, both pigmentation and keloid size are reduced. To try this remedy: Crush three to four aspirin tablets.
How to lighten keloid scars?
To use this method: Take two to three fresh garlic cloves and crush them. Apply to the keloid area and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Wash off with water and apply moisturizer. Discontinue use or reduce application time if the garlic burns your skin.
What is a keloids?
Keloids are raised buildups of scar tissue on the skin. They usually form and grow after a wound, puncture, burn, or blemish. For some people, this scar tissue is more pronounced and darker than the rest of their skin tone.
What to do if you have keloids after a puncture?
If keloids don’t improve with the help of home remedies, talk to your doctor about more other treatments . They may include over-the-counter or prescribed creams and gels.
What is the best way to lighten scars?
Garlic. This root vegetable works much like aspirin, according to a 2011 dermatology report. Trusted Source. . It blocks certain enzymes from entering the site that contribute to tissue and pigment buildup. Over time, application may help lighten scars.
Does onion extract help with keloids?
Onion. Quite a few studies support the use of onion for keloids. A 2013 study found that the use of onion extract stopped fibroblasts — the cells that produce the scar tissue — from entering the skin. Another study in 2012 found onion extract gel sped healing and reduced scar height. In a 2011 trial.
What is the first treatment for keloids?
Intralesional (injected) corticosteroids are usually the first type of therapy recommended for the treatment of keloids. A needle is used to inject a steroid, typically triamcinolone, directly into the keloid. Liquid nitrogen may be applied prior to injection .
What is the best way to remove a keloid?
In a surgical excision, a scalpel (a sharp surgical blade) is used to remove the keloid. Triamcinolone or another medication called interferon is often injected before, during, or after the excision. Injecting triamcinolone around the time of surgery helps prevent the keloid from returning. 5
What is a keloid scar?
Keloid Treatments. A keloid is an abnormal scar that may also be itchy, painful and spreads beyond the original borders of the skin injury. There are many ways to treat keloids but if you know you are likely to form keloids, the most effective strategy is to prevent keloid formation in the first place.
How does chemo help keloids?
This is a chemotherapeutic drug injected into keloids. It treats keloids by blocking DNA replication. This stops fibroblasts, the cells that overgrow in a keloid, from reproducing. Some patients report ulceration and pain as side effects. This treatment may also be combined with intralesional corticosteroid injections. 11
How to get rid of keloids?
If you form keloids in response to acne, it is important to treat the acne quickly and use medications to help prevent its return. 2 If you have acne, avoid shaving your neck and face, as doing so may irritate your acne and stimulate more keloid formation. Instead, use scissors to trim your facial hair.
How often do you have to repeat keloid injections?
Injections are repeated every month until the keloid becomes flatter and softer. One study showed an 82.7 percent reduction in size of the scar three months after the last injection. The treatment may be combined with other therapies for better results. 5 .
How to reduce keloid scars?
Instead, use scissors to trim your facial hair. Keep the hairs at least one-eighth of an inch long . Additionally, proper treatment of wounds may help minimize scar formation and, in turn, reduce keloid formation. Try to keep your wounds moist with petroleum jelly and covered with a non-stick bandage.
What is the best treatment for a keloid scar?
For certain types of scars (including some keloids), your doctor may recommend laser treatment . This treatment resurfaces the keloid and surrounding skin with high beams of light in an effort to create a smoother, more toned appearance.
How to shrink keloid scars?
Keloids tend to shrink and become flatter over time, even without treatment. Initially, your doctor will probably recommend less-invasive treatments, such as silicone pads, pressure dressings, or injections, especially if the keloid scar is a fairly new one.
What is a keloid scar?
a lumpy or ridged area of skin that’s usually raised. an area that continues to grow larger with scar tissue over time. an itchy patch of skin. While keloid scars may be itchy, they’re usually not harmful to your health.
Why do keloid scars look darker?
Sun exposure or tanning may discolor the scar tissue, making it slightly darker than your surrounding skin. This can make the keloid stand out more. Keep the scar covered when you’re in the sun to prevent discoloration. Find out more about sunscreen and other ways you can protect your skin.
How to tell if you have a keloid?
The symptoms of a keloid can include: 1 a localized area that is flesh-colored, pink, or red 2 a lumpy or ridged area of skin that’s usually raised 3 an area that continues to grow larger with scar tissue over time 4 an itchy patch of skin
How long does it take for a keloid scar to develop?
Keloid scars tend to be larger than the original wound itself. They may take weeks or months to develop fully. The symptoms of a keloid can include: While keloid scars may be itchy, they’re usually not harmful to your health.
What percentage of people have keloid scars?
An estimated 10 percent of people experience keloid scarring. Men and women are equally likely to have keloid scars. People with darker skin tones are more prone to keloids. Other risk factors associated with keloid formation include: being of Asian descent. being of Latino descent.
How Do Wound Dressings Work?
Safe to use, dressings are a noninvasive way to soften and flatten keloids. Some experts suggest the increased temperature, moisturization, and changes in oxygen levels to the scar tissue may play a role in making the keloid more pliable, 17 but others indicate temperature and oxygen levels do not play a role.
Are Silicone and Non-Silicone Dressings Effective on Keloids?
Evidence from some clinical trials on silicone and non-silicone sheet dressings has demonstrated they can reduce the size and symptoms of keloids for the majority of patients. 2 Importantly, in one study over 90% of patients were satisfied with results from non-silicone semi-occlusive dressings after only eight weeks.
How many patients have keloids?
Keloids and hypertrophic scars occur anywhere from 30 to 90% of patients, and are characterized by pathologically excessive dermal fibrosis and aberrant wound healing.
What is the best treatment for acne scars?
Cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is a very effective method to treat small scars, such as severe acne scars [58]. Cryotherapy combined with intralesional triamcinolone has been described as the most common traditional therapy for hypertrophic scars and keloids [20].
Is silicone gel good for scarring?
Among the different available silicone formats, although silicone gel and SGS have equivalent efficacy in the management of excessive scarring after an operation, silicone gel currently appears to be the preferred silicone therapy, due mainly to ease of use, as Mustoe and colleagues advocate [30].
Is triamcinolone a first line treatment?
Despite relatively few randomized, prospective studies, there is a broad consensus that injected triamcinolone is efficacious. It is first-line therapy for the treatment of keloids, and second-line therapy for the treatment of hypertrophic scars, if other less invasive treatments have not been efficacious [1,39–41].
Diagnosis
- Your doctor usually can tell whether you have a keloid by looking at the affected skin. You might need a skin biopsy to rule out skin cancer.
Treatment
- Keloid scar treatments include the following. One or a combination of approaches might be best for your situation. Even after successful flattening or removal, keloids can grow back, sometimes bigger than before. Or you may develop new ones. 1. Wound care.For newer keloids, the first treatment option might be compression dressings made from stretchy fabric or other materials. …
Alternative Medicine
- There are no proven methods of removing keloid scars naturally. Some clinical studies have shown that onion extract used orally or on the skin might possibly be effective in improving the appearance of keloid scars and reducing itchiness and discomfort.
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Call your doctor if you notice a change in your skin that might indicate a keloid is forming or if you've been living with a keloid for a while and want to seek treatment. After your initial appointment, your doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions (dermatologist). You might want to ask a trusted family member or …