What is a Keloid?

A keloid is the term given to a certain type of scar that is formed at the site of a skin injury. The injury to the skin can be either deliberate or accidental and the keloid refers to a scar that is characterized by being actually larger than the original injury area and it is generally raised above the skin and irregular-shaped. Most scars are flat and confined to the site of the wound, they also may diminish over time. A keloid may actually "grow" well past the time of the injury.

A keloid can be pink to red colored, and is made up of firm nodules that can extend well beyond the area of the injury, as mentioned earlier, and may remain for years. In addition to forming an unsightly "scar," a keloid can actually be quite itchy, or cause a burning sensation or pain to the individual affected.

Doctors do not yet know the cause of keloids, or why they form in some people and circumstances and not in others. What the statistics do show is that men and women are affected by keloids equally, but children and older adults are the least likely populations to develop this type of scarring. People with darker skin are more likely to develop keloids and they do have a tendency to run in families, so doctors suspect a genetic component. Keloids are most likely to develop on the earlobes, chest, back and shoulders.

Currently, treatment options for dealing with a keloid include: cortisone injections may help diminish a keloid, but will not make it disappear altogether. This is considered relatively safe and not very painful; laser surgery is another mode of treatment that is considered safe and relatively painless. Again, this may flatten the keloid but will completely remove it. Additionally, it may take more than one, or several laser treatments to address the problem; surgery is another option, but in people who already have a keloid and have established a predisposition to getting them, surgery could produce an even larger keloid. There are additional medications and treatments that doctors may choose to use depending on the site and severity of the keloid.

Just as a keloid can be quite variable, the success of the various treatment options can be variable as well. A person who is affected by a keloid type scar should consult a physician or a specialist to find out available options for care and treatment.