| Definition: |
Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue at the site of a skin injury.
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| Alternative Names: |
Hypertrophic scar; Keloid scar; Scar - hypertrophic
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| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: |
Keloids occur from such skin injuries as surgical incisions, traumatic wounds, vaccination sites, burns, chickenpox, acne, or even minor scratches. They are fairly common in young women and African Americans. Keloidosis (cheloidosis) is a term used when multiple or repeated keloids are produced.
Most keloids will flatten and become less noticeable over a period of several years. They may become irritated from rubbing on clothing or other forms of friction. Extensive keloids may become binding, limiting mobility. They may cause cosmetic changes and affect the appearance. Exposure to the sun during the first year of keloid formation will cause the keloid to preferentially tan. This dark coloration may become permanent. |
| Symptoms: |
- Skin lesion
- Flesh-colored, red, or pink
- Located over the site of a wound, injury, or other lesion
- Nodular or ridged
- Itching during formation and growth
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| Signs and tests: |
| Diagnosis is made on the basis of the appearance of the skin or scar. A skin biopsy may be needed to rule out other skin growths (tumors). |
| Treatment: |
Keloids often require no treatment. Keloids may be reduced in size by freezing (cryotherapy), external pressure, corticosteroid injections, laser treatments, radiation, or surgical removal. It is not unusual for keloids to reappear (sometimes larger than before) after they have been removed.
Discoloration from sun exposure can be prevented by covering the forming keloid with a patch or bandaid, or using sunblockers when spending time in the sun (for at least 6 months after injury or surgery for an adult; up to 18 months for a child). |
| Expectations (prognosis): |
| Keloids usually are not medically dangerous, but they may affect the cosmetic appearance. In some cases, they may spontaneously reduce in size over time. Removal or reduction may not be permanent, and surgical removal may result in a larger keloid scar. |
| Complications: |
- Psychological distress if large or disfiguring
- Recurrence of keloid
- Discomfort, tenderness, irritation of the keloid
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| Calling your health care provider: |
| Call your health care provider if keloids develop and removal or reduction is desired, or new symptoms develop. |
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