A keloid is a type of scar. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, keloids form as the result of skin cells and connective tissues called fibroblasts being over-active and creating excess tissue mass as they repair the site of a skin injury. The keloid can continue to swell as more and more tissue is made and can become increasingly disfiguring.
For a keloid sufferer, there are a number of treatment options ranging from home remedies to surgery, but none are completely effective. Consult with your health care provider before starting any alternative treatment.
identification
It is important to first identify if your raised scar is a keloid or another type of growth scar called a hypertrophic scar. The AOCD notes that these two scars can look very similar and are often confused. The hypertrophic scar, however, is far more common and easy to treat. Keloids generally appear in people between the ages of 10 and 30 who have darker skin tones, notes the United Kingdom's NHS Choices website. The reason for this, and the reason why keloids are often hereditary, is unknown.
Home Remedies
Natural health website Granny Med notes that botanical remedies like aloe vera and gotu kola are connected with scar healing. Gotu kola can control the amount of collagen, essential for skin regeneration, that goes to a wound site and is also said to regulate blood flow. Aloe vera is noted to have anti-inflammatory and healing effects when applied topically.
Speculation
The effectiveness of aloe vera and gotu kola as scar healers in general is rather speculative and, according to Granny Med, aloe vera is not suitable for old scarring. MayoClinic.com has a detailed list of all possible conditions that aloe vera can be beneficial to and no mention is made of keloid scars, or even scars in general.
Clinical Treatment
AOCD recommends clinical treatments for effective keloid reduction. A specialist can apply liquid nitrogen to the keloid in a treatment called cryotherapy. This stops the scar swelling further. Cortisone can be injected directly into the scar. These treatments break down the connective tissues and can help reduce its size. Surgeons are reluctant to surgically remove keloids as they can regrow, but AOCD notes that some surgeons will remove them in the most severe cases and use radiation to attempt to stop regrowth.
Considerations
Consult your family doctor concerning your keloids or keloid formation. As the NHS website notes, keloids are very difficult to treat, with some clinical treatments even proving ineffective. Therefore, attempting to self-treat with home remedies may just irritate the situation and is unlikely to produce results.
If you fall into the demographic of those most at risk, or believe that keloids run in your family, you should consider avoiding body piercings, tattoos and other such lifestyle choices.
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