Whether you are a woman or a man, no one wants to have scars on their body, especially “keloid scars” which not only irritate the skin but also look unattractive and cause a loss of confidence.
What is a ‘Keloid’ Scar?
‘Keloid’ is a type of scar tissue tumor that differs from regular scars. It grows rapidly and forms a raised scar that expands beyond the original wound boundaries. Sometimes, it may cause itching or pain at the lump. It is commonly found in areas with high skin tension such as the earlobes, jawline, shoulders, chest, and upper arms.
Causes of Keloid Scar Formation
Generally, the skin undergoes a natural wound healing process in three stages. The cause of keloid scars is an abnormality in the wound healing process, characterized by an increase in collagen-producing cells, increased blood vessels, and accumulation of abnormal collagen, resulting in the formation of keloid lumps.
Factors Contributing to Keloid Scar Formation
- Ethnicity: Keloid scars are more common in people with darker skin and Asians than in Caucasians.
- Genetics: If family members have a history of easily developing keloid scars or if someone has had keloid scars in other locations before, there is a higher likelihood of developing keloid scars in the future.
- Location: Areas of skin with high tension such as the shoulders, chest, upper back, earlobes, or areas with sutured wounds like cesarean section scars or breast surgery scars.
- Symptoms of the condition: The level of inflammation or infection.
- Hormones: There are reports of increased keloid scar formation during pregnancy and in women of reproductive age.
Keloid Treatment by Specialists
- Intralesional corticosteroid injection is a standard treatment method where the doctor injects Triamcinolone acetonide directly into the scar or keloid lump. The medication reduces inflammation and suppresses the activity of collagen-producing cells. After injection, the keloid shrinks and softens. However, repeated high-concentration steroid injections may cause side effects such as white spots, thinning skin, broken capillaries, or stretch marks.
- Anti-neoplastic drug injection is an alternative treatment for keloids that provides good results, especially in cases where steroid injections alone are not effective. It also helps reduce side effects from steroid-only treatments.
- Surgical excision/incision involves cutting out or reducing the size of the scar. This method provides quick and effective results for patients who do not respond to injections. However, it must be combined with other treatments after surgery because there is a chance of recurrence even after removal.
- Intralesional corticosteroid injection combined with laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) is an integrated treatment method developed by combining several research-supported techniques to maximize the effectiveness of each hospital visit for keloid treatment.
The effectiveness of keloid treatment varies depending on the duration, location, size of the lump, and individual response to treatment.
Smooth skin is everyone’s desire. Therefore, if anything diminishes the beauty of your skin and undermines your confidence, you should promptly consult a specialist to maintain beautiful skin for a long time.
Dr. Patcharawat Jirasutthas
Dermatology and Family Medicine Specialist
Dermatology and Aesthetic Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
