Dr. Mrs. Nirved Jain - Keloids Specialist
Keloids are thick, puckered, itchy clusters of scar tissue that grow beyond the edges of the wound or incision. They are often red or darker in color than the surrounding skin. Keloids occur when the body continues to produce the tough, fibrous protein known as collagen after a wound has healed. Keloids may be accompanied by sharp pain, severe itchiness, tenderness and increased sensitivity, depending upon the patient.
Keloids can appear anywhere on the body, but they’re most common over the breast bone, on the earlobes, and on the shoulders. They occur more often in dark skinned than in those who are fair. The tendency to develop Keloids lessens with age. Keloids are often treated by injecting a steroid medication directly into the scar tissue to reduce redness, itching and burning. In some cases, this will also shrink the scar.
There are both surgical and non surgical alternative available for treating keloids, but it has been seen that keloid scars are very hard to treat using surgery since surgical keloid removal always leads to the re-formation of scar tissue. This results in recurrence of the Keloid tissue in the treated place. Thus, your surgeon Dr. Mrs. Nirved Jain prefers using non-surgical methods to treat Keloid scars. Non surgical alternatives include :
- Corticosteroid injections, also known as cortisone
- Silicone Sheets
- Compression Therapy and Compression Devices
- Laser Therapy
- Cryotherapy
Dr. Mrs. Nirved Jain prefers to use laser therapy for treating keloid scars of the patients as it is very effective in such cases, resulting in complete removal of the keloid scar from the affected area.
How are keloid scars formed? What is the difference between a keloid scar and a hypertrophic scar?
After skin has been injured, the healing process will usually leave a flat scar, level with the skin surface. Sometimes the scar is thickened, otherwise known as "hypertrophic", but the scar is confined to the margins of the trauma area. Unlike keloids, hypertrophic scars often subside by themselves (a process which can take one year or more). Treatment such as injections of cortisone can accelerate this process.
By contrast, keloids do not remain a flat scar. A keloid forms as the healing injured skin produces excess collagen and connective tissue extending beyond the originally damaged area. Keloids do not flatten or regress like hypertrophic scars, and may grow too unsightly, disfiguring proportions. Unlike hypertrophic scars, the time of onset is variable with a keloid and may be weeks to months after an infection or trauma. Keloids may occur spontaneously and hypertrophic scars do not.
Where can a keloid scar appear?
Keloids can form on any part of the body where an abrasion of some sort has occurred. Where keloids are mostly found? Common locations for a keloid are on earlobes, upper back, chest, and shoulders. Although their cause is unknown, keloids tend to form mainly in parts of the body where melanocyte concentration is highest, thus sparing the palms and soles.
How long will it take before I see effect?
Result can be seen in days. We must remember that the objectives of the treatments are to:
- 1) Ensure that collagen formation and production is reduced
- 2) The symptoms of pain and itch is eliminated
- 3) The keloid mass gradually thins.
Please note that to make the keloid disappear as if it is never there is not possible. As a keloid flattens over time, there will still be light pigmentations over the location of the keloid. However, its appearance will improve over time.
Additional Resources :
- See Before & After Keloids photos of our aesthetic surgery patients.
- Book a consultation with Dr. Mrs. Nirved Jain for an appointment to discuss your options.
- For additional surgical and non-surgical Facial procedures click here.
