A keloid is a growth of scar tissue that protrudes from the skin at the site of an injury. The website for the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology notes that in their attempt to heal the wound, connective tissue cells, called fibroblasts, and skin cells become overactive and create too much replacement tissue. The result is a keloid. For people prone to them, they can develop from skin damage as minor as a body piercing, but treatments exist that can help with their reduction.
Risk Factors
The NHS website states that people with darker skin types are more prone to developing keloid scars. They are also more common in people ages 10 to 30 years and tend to be hereditary. The reasons for these groups being more at risk is unknown. For people who are prone to develop keloids, a keloid can appear anywhere on the body, including the earlobes, in the case of piercings.
Identification
It is possible to confuse a keloid scar with a hypertrophic scar, which are far more common and don't distinguish between skin color or age. Hypertrophic scars form in much the same way as keloids, except that they are not as large and generally fade over time, unlike keloids, notes the ACOD website.
Reduction
According to MedlinePlus, keloids can be reduced in size by several means. Freezing using liquid nitrogen, cryosurgery, is considered effective, as is the use of corticosteroid injections. Natural hormonal steroids, which are found in the body in weaker concentrations, are used to reduce inflammation, notes Acne.org. As a self-treatment to prevent keloid formation, those prone to developing them can apply silicone gel pads or paper doused in steroids to the site of a fresh piercing to stop its formation.
Removal
Keloids are difficult to treat, even with surgery. A new, even bigger, keloid can grow from the scar tissue once an old keloid has been removed. This can be distressing for the sufferer, especially if the scar is in a highly visible place like the face. ACOD details how surgeons can target the site with X-rays immediately after surgery, which proves effective at preventing further growth in 85 percent of cases.
Considerations
If you are worried that you are prone to keloid scarring, consult your health-care provider and avoid activities such as piercings and tattoos. Likewise, speak with a doctor if you suspect a scar of being a keloid rather than the more common hypertrophic scar. MelinePlus notes that exposing a new keloid to the sun, within its first year, can cause the skin to irreversibly tan, thus worsening its appearance.
