Keloid is a scar that occurs recurrently on the skin. It rises on the skin suddenly and is pinkish in color. It grows in size progressing to big size thereby giving ugly appearance on the skin. Regular scars will fade away after sometime, but keloids do not go with time. Whenever there is any infection or lesions on the skin, it will leave behind a scar after healing. This type of scar is hypertrophic scar and it will be just the size of the wound and will never extend beyond it. But keloid grows bigger and bigger extending to large size on the skin surface.
Symptoms :
Keloids are raised scars that are pink in color and it varies in size ranging from small to extra large. It will produce itching sensation and sometimes can cause pain while touching. It looks ugly on the skin causing cosmetic problem for the incumbent. They occur on the surface of the skin on your back, shoulders, ears and even on your chest.
Causes :
The exact cause for the development of keloids is not known. Scientists still cannot find out why keloids grow only on certain people sparing others. Some believe that cellular signals and its changes have some relation with the development of keloids. But no study has still confirmed this hypothesis. It is also said that keloids run in families making it hereditary disease.
Who are at risk?
Keloids develop on both men and women equally, but women are infected more for the reason that they do piercing a lot than men. Normally keloids are not found on children and aged people.
Prevention :
You cannot prevent or take any measures to avoid getting keloids.
Pictures of Keloid :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Keloid
Treatment :
Some people ignore the presence of keloids if they occur on their back and in small size. So, the treatment depends on the place at which it develops and how far it has intensified on the skin of the individual. If it occurs on sensitive areas that are exposed then it has to be removed, failing which it would be embarrassing for the person.
Doctors recommend cortisone injections for removing keloids. The dosage of injection has to be decided by your doctor and you have to take one shot for a month. This drug enters the blood and flattens the keloid’s growth.
Surgery is done on rare cases for removing large sized keloid. The surgeon would inject steroids on the area and cut away the keloid totally bonding the area with pressure dressings. Radiation therapy is also combined with surgery for some people.
Laser therapy is effective in destroying keloids. But this process is very expensive and not covered under insurance plans.
Cryotherapy is done for freezing keloids using liquid nitrogen. Some doctors would apply silicone sheets on the area and leave it aside for weeks and even months. Gradually, keloids would fall off since it cannot withstand the pressure. Radiation and interferon are also used for curing keloids.
