What Is a Keloid Scar?

While everyone has scars on their skin from cuts, blemishes and other skin trauma, a keloid or keloid scar is a more severe skin formation. Like normal scarring, keloids begin from some sort of skin trauma, whether it be a cut, burn or inflammation. Unfortunately, while normal scar tissue confines itself the original trauma area, keloids continue to grow beyond the original cut or burned area and spread. Without treatment, keloids can become very large and cause aesthetic and other issues for the keloid patient.

The cause of a keloid growth is unknown. This type of scarring tissue can grow on women or men, in all races. There does seem to be a genetic tendency, but a person does not need to have someone in their family that has keloids to be susceptible. Keloids are most common on the chest, back and shoulders, as well as on the ear lobes.

The first signs of a keloid is a domed, red scar with a shiny surface. The scar may begin to outgrow the original area of the scar. Without treatment, these scars can become very large and need to be surgically removed. There have been many keloids on ear lobes that have grown as large as a baseball, disfiguring the appearance of the person with the scar.

The sooner treatment begins on a keloid, the better chance a patient will have in reducing further scarring. Once a person has had one keloid, they are more likely to experience another one and should avoid cosmetic piercings and tattoos that can cause keloids. For treatment, those with keloids should seek medical advice and therapy from a licensed dermatologist.

Posted on behalf of:
Medical Dermatology Specialists
875 Johnson Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30342
(404) 939-9220

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