Keloid: Scar, Treatment & Formation

Medically reviewed by Doctor Kee Yong Seng on Jun 20, 2019

WHAT IS KELOID?

Keloid is a type of scar that raises above the normal skin surface known and form a raised scar. It’s also known as hypertrophic scar. Form of keloids doesn’t necessarily happens to everyone, and not every scar will turn into keloids.

Keloids are usually darker than your natural skin color. They are firm, itchy and can grow larger with time. Keloids are usually in irregular shapes. They often formed in the chest, back, shoulders, and earlobes areas.

KELOID

Keloid-scars

HOW KELOIDS ARE FORMED?

Keloid often forms as a result of a ‘traumatic injury’. It happens when there’s a wound that supersedes the dermis layer of the skin. This often happens when someone had a surgical wound, or a deep wound.

Keloid is formed when the skin detects wounds or break in the skin wall. As soon as the skin detects these, it will release collagen to help ‘repair’ and seal up the wound. However, as the skin heals, the end result of the repair may not be as good as it was before the wound.

When the skin secreted too much collagen, they will accumulate on the same point. The collagen overlaps, raises over the skin surface and hardens which forms keloid.

There are rare cases keloids are formed even when the skin doesn’t experience a wound. These are called ‘spontaneous keloids’.

The most common misconception about keloid is that it causes cancer which is not the case, because keloids can’t cause cancer.

keloid scar

WHAT CAUSES KELOIDS?

Genetics: One of the most common causes of keloid is genetics. If you have a history of keloids running in your family, then it is a high probability that you tend to develop keloids too. In a research, about 1 out of 3 people who are prone to develop keloid have first degree blood relatives who has it as well.

Races: It also relates to how some races tend to have keloids more than others. Studies have shown that Hispanic, Chinese, and African descents tend to develop keloids more common than others.

keloid scar

HOW TO GET RID OF KELOIDS NATURALLY?

Keloid is hard to get rid of naturally. Currently there are no home remedy that can shrink down keloids. However, there are few methods which can be used to stop the keloids from enlarging.

Silicone sheeting or gel

Silicone sheeting or gel: Silicone or gel are the most common remedy for keloids scar. It increases hydration of stratum corneum. The hydration then improves regulation of fibroblast production thus reduces in collagen production. The application of silicone or gel are proven to help reduce the appearance of hypertrophic scar.

Anti-scarring cream

Anti-scarring cream: There are some skin products that have shown progress in reducing scar’s appearance like lanolin or petrolatum. To see prominent result, you have to apply the cream regularly. However, be careful as there are also creams that claim they can reduce scars even without proofs. For example, onion extract or Vitamin E are often marketed as anti-scar cream although there’s no conclusive proof that it helps.

HOW TO AVOID KELOIDS?

As keloids are a direct result of wounds, might not be a good suggestion, cut etc. However, if you already experienced some keloids developing, please follow the following steps:

  1. Clean your cut/wound thoroughly with running water to reduce any risk of infection.
  2. Cover the wound with bandage smeared with petrolatum. This will help keep the wound hydrated.
  3. Gently cleanse the wound. Avoid picking on scabs or dried skin cells to not aggravate it.
  4. Apply the silicone sheeting or gel as soon as the wound heals.

HOW TO AVOID KELOIDS

TREATMENTS OPTIONS TO REMOVE KELOIDS

If you are interested to know more about keloids removal process, kindly reach out to our friendly customer service to make an appointment with our doctors who are experts in this area:

Whatsapp/Call: +6012-662-5552
Email: contactus@premier-clinic.com

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