How to Avoid Keloid Formations on Your Skin

Did an injury produce a raised scar on your skin that does not look like your other scars? If so, this raised scar is likely a keloid formation. According to medicinenet.com, a keloid scar formation is a raised scar, pink or purple in color, and is typically smooth and shiny. Sometimes, the scar will extend itself beyond the injured area. A keloid is extremely hard to remove, so the best thing is to try not to injure yourself to avoid keloid formation. So, what can you do to avoid getting a keloid formation? Here are some tips:

According to medicinenet.com, a keloid formation more likely occurs in darker-skinned individuals, but can occur in anyone. Too, medicinenet.com indicates that a predisposition to keloid formation can run in the family. Oddly, though, just because you get one keloid doesn't mean that you will get another. Too, just because you've never had a keloid doesn't mean that you won't form one. One skin injury might cause a keloid, while another skin injury might not cause a keloid to form.

An injury or a burn can produce a keloid, though, so you do want to try and minimize any trauma to your skin. For instance, you might typically heal with natural scarring, but then you might develop a keloid when you get a body tattoo or body piercing. As well, you might heal with natural scarring, but when your doctor cauterizes a wound, you might then develop a keloid. So, if you notice that cauterization, piercings, or tattoos tend to produce keloids on your body, of course you will want to refrain from such future activities.

Possible keloid formation calls body tattoos and body piercings into question. If you don't know whether or not you will form a keloid, how do you know that it is safe to get a body tattoo or body piercing? Both procedures traumatize the skin. Remember, you can go for years without developing a keloid and then all of a sudden develop one. Even worse, what would you do if you had make up (such as eye liner) tattooed onto your eyes and a keloid formed in this area? This would cause you some serious trouble, so think twice before you get such a procedure.

What happens, though, if you already have a keloid? Well, if it isn't growing, and it doesn't bother you, the best thing might be to leave it alone. Trying to treat/remove the keloid could cause a bigger keloid, and you don't want that, right? If the keloid is unsightly or growing bigger, you might want to try some current treatments for keloids, such as cortisone shots or surgery. Even radiation has proven to be helpful in treating keloids, according to medicinenet.com. Still, the best remedy is avoiding skin injury, if possible.

Sources

medicinenet.com