If you've noticed a lumpy, flesh-colored scar on your face, it may be a keloid. A keloid is a scar that may occur as the skin heals after a trauma, like a cut, a piercing or a chickenpox rash. Keloids are most common among African Americans and young women, and may be hereditary. Consult a doctor before treating a keloid yourself.
Keloid Process
When the skin heals from a wound, skin cells and connective tissue cells multiply to fill in the wounded area. Ordinarily, the connective tissue and skin cells stop multiplying when the skin has healed. In the case of keloids, however, your skin cells and connective tissue cells may continue to multiply. This accumulation of cells creates a fleshy lump, or a keloid, on the face.
Causes
Keloids may appear on the skin after any injury, but not every skin injury may cause a keloid when it heals. Common causes of keloids include the site of a vaccination, cuts from surgery, scratches, burns, acne, chickenpox and piercings, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center website. When a patient suffers from keloidosis, more than one keloid forms in a small area, or the same keloid continues to pop up over and over in spite of treatment. The chest, upper back and shoulders are the most common location for keloids, although keloids may also appear on the face.
Home Remedies
Keloids may become flatter and smaller over several years. If the keloid is not bothersome, leave it alone and it may go away on its own. Keloids pose no medical threat -- treatment is not necessary if the appearance doesn't bother you. Keloids may darken and look more noticeable after sun exposure, so keep your keloid covered or shade your face with a hat to keep it from getting worse.
Medical Treatment
Your doctor may inject a cortisone solution into the keloid once a month to flatten the area. You may notice results in approximately three to six months, notes the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology website. If your keloid is small, your doctor may use cryosurgery to freeze the keloid off of the face, which she may follow with a course of cortisone injections. For keloids on or near the ear, your doctor may surgically remove the keloid.
Prevention
If you are prone to keloids on the face, your doctor may place a small piece of tape or silicone gel over a scrape, cut or other wound to prevent the skin and connective tissue cells from multiplying. The tape or gel provides pressure to the area, which will keep the skin flat and allow it to heal normally.
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