When I had a small skin tag removed from my chest about 20 years ago, I didn’t know I was prone to keloids, a type of raised scar. But I developed one right in the spot where the skin tag was, and ... Keloids are more than just a cosmetic concern; they can be a source of discomfort and emotional distress.

Understanding the Context

For Black people, the tendency to develop keloids is notably higher, a fact that has both ... Hypertrophic scars and keloids both form due to excess collagen during wound healing. But hypertrophic scars stay within the confines of the wound, while keloids can grow beyond. Keloids are also much ...

Key Insights

Silicone gel sheets can help prevent scars from growing into keloids. Honey has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce scar size during healing. Cryotherapy uses extreme cold to reduce ... It is a result of an overgrowth of granulation tissue (collagen type III) at the site of a healed skin injury, which is then slowly replaced by collagen type I. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules, and can vary from pink to the color of the person's skin or red to dark brown.

Final Thoughts

Experts don't completely understand what causes keloid scars. But most agree it's likely a dysfunction of the wound-healing process. Collagen — a protein found throughout the body — is useful to wound healing, but when the body produces too much, keloids can form. A keloid scar is a type of raised scar. It forms months to a year after the injury that caused it. The scar grows larger than the initial wound.

Keloids don’t fade over time. A dermatologist may offer treatments like corticosteroid injections or pressure garments to reduce its size and appearance. Certain people are prone to keloids, a type of raised scar caused by dysfunctional wound healing. Surgery is an option to get rid of them, but for those unable or unwilling to undergo such procedures, there are minimally invasive options like laser therapy or corticosteroid injections that can help.