Keloids are a form of scar tissue that develops over an injury site. Collagen and other connective tissue develop at a heightened rate to help heal a wound, leading to raised, reddish scar tissue on the surface of the skin. Almost any type of skin damage can result in a keloid, including acne, surgical incisions, piercings, burns, scratches, wounds and even chickenpox, according to the National Institutes of Health. A number of treatments can be used to reduce and remove this form of scar tissue.
Step 1
Apply a medicated cream to the keloid. Creams containing silicone are the most common topical prescription used to treat keloids, but your dermatologist may recommend corticosteroids or retinoids to flatten a keloid on the face. Topical prescriptions are used daily to reduce scar tissue in approximately six months, explains the American Academy of Dermatology.
Step 2
Flatten keloid scars with intralesional injections. Instead of topical corticosteroid, your dermatologist may inject a steroidal medication directly into the keloid. The steroid lessens inflammation, evening the raised scar tissue with surrounding skin.
Step 3
Freeze the keloid protruding from the skin, suggests the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Applying liquid nitrogen directly onto the raised scar tissue can cause the keloid to die and ultimately fall off.
Step 4
Undergo laser therapy. Both the National Institutes of Health and the American Academy of Dermatology agree that laser therapy can reduce keloids on the skin. The laser energy helps to break up the scar tissue and lessen redness of the raised scar.
Step 5
Talk to your dermatologist about the surgical removal of the keloid. If other treatments fail to provide results, a surgery may be necessary to extract the scar tissue from the skin. This is often followed with other forms of treatment to prevent the reformation of raised scarring, explains the American Academy of Dermatology.
Tips and Warnings
- Like laser therapy, radiation has also shown promise in reducing the size of keloids, notes the National Institutes of Health. Sometimes, dermatologists use interferon instead of corticosteroids to inject into keloids. Interferons are typically used as antiviral agents, but have also shown promise as antiproliferatives, meaning they can inhibit cell growth. Results are similar to corticosteroids, helping to lessen inflammation and causing raised scar tissue to become flush with the surrounding skin.
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