What Are Keloids and How To Get Rid Of Them?

Scarring on the skin from an injury or after surgery is a common part of the wound healing process. Over time, these scars will fade and disappear.

Keloids can cause itching or pain and interfere with appearance, even affect mental and emotional conditions. This ultimately can reduce the quality of life of the sufferer.

So that the above conditions do not occur, it is better if you know information about keloids and how to overcome them.

How to Recognize Keloids

A keloid can be recognized as a scar tissue protrusion on a scar that grows excessively and exceeds the size of the previously existing wound. Keloids will grow slowly, ie within 3-12 months.

Initially, keloids appear as bumps of scar tissue that are pink, red, or purplish in color. Over time, keloids can turn darker in color.

When touched, the keloid will feel softer and smoother than the surrounding skin. Keloids also feel solid and do not move around and can cause itching and pain.

Causes of Keloid Appearance

It is not known exactly how keloids appear. However, the risk of developing keloids is higher in people who have a family history of keloids.

Several other factors can also increase the risk of keloids, namely repeated injuries to the same skin area, infection in the wound, or people undergoing surgery.

In addition, some areas of the body are also more prone to developing keloids, namely the shoulders, upper arms, upper back, middle chest, ear piercings, and the back of the neck.

How to treat keloids

Keloids can be treated with a combination of several therapies. The treatment given depends on the age of the patient, the results of previous keloid therapy, and the location, size, and depth of the keloid. The following are some types of therapy to treat keloids:

1. Keloid injection

In this procedure, a corticosteroid medication containing triamcinolone acetonide is injected directly into the keloid tissue using a very small needle. Keloid injections can be repeated at intervals of 4–6 weeks.

Corticosteroid injections can make the skin thinner and redder. Keloid treatment can be combined with laser therapy to fade the color of the keloid.

2. Cryotherapy

This therapy uses liquid nitrogen that is sprayed onto the keloid for 10–30 seconds, 3 times in a row. This treatment can be repeated every month until the keloid shrinks. Cryotherapy can be combined with keloid injections for better results.

3. Lasers

Laser therapy is quite effective at flattening keloids and making them fade. This therapy is safe and not too painful, but requires several sessions of therapy at a relatively high cost. Laser therapy will be more effective when combined with keloid injections.

4. Keloid removal surgery

Treating keloids with surgery is a risky procedure, because it can trigger the formation of new keloids that can be even larger.

Surgery is usually combined with other measures, such as keloid injections, applying pressure (compression) to the wound with special tools for several months after surgery, or radiotherapy to prevent keloids from growing back.

5. Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy or radiation therapy is done by shooting X-rays into the keloid. This therapy is usually done shortly after surgery, the next day, or one week after surgery.

Radiotherapy is useful for preventing keloids from growing back. Although using X-ray exposure, this therapy is considered very safe from the risk of cancer.

How to prevent keloids

If the keloid on the face comes from acne, seek treatment immediately if a pimple appears on your face again. It is feared that newly formed acne will cause keloids again.

Also avoid shaving the mustache and beard using a razor because it can injure the face. Therefore, it is recommended that you use scissors to shave carefully.

Also, don't pierce or get tattoos on your body and face if you are prone to keloids. Tell your doctor about this condition before undergoing surgery.

After reading this article, you should be able to better understand what keloids are and how to treat them. Although harmless, keloids can cause psychological problems to affect the quality of life of sufferers.

The most important thing is if you are susceptible or at risk of developing keloids, immediately consult a doctor if you have a wound or injury that causes sores on the skin as a form of keloid prevention.