A scar is classified as keloid when there is dense overgrowth of thick fibrous tissue on the scar. A keloid scar can be caused due to various injuries, including minor cuts, burns, acne, surgical cuts, vaccinations and scrapes. The scar usually develops after the injury has already healed. The overgrowth of the tissue usually exceeds the borders and these types of scars are very difficult to treat completely. A repetitive occurrence of keloid scars is known as Keloidosis.
Treatment
Local steroid injections are the most accepted treatment method for keloid scars. Other treatment methods include occlusive dressings using silicone gel, compression dressings and surgical excision. You can also get laser therapy in which concentrated laser light is used to remove the fibrous tissue and radiotherapy in which radiation is used to burn of the keloid scar tissues. Cryotherapy, in which varying temperatures are applied to the scar, can help crystallize and remove the scar tissue.
Success Rates
While excision is a popular method of scar therapy, it is also the least effective. There is 50 percent chance of keloidosis with this therapy. Laser therapy is a promising method of treatment for keloid scars, but it too has only 50 percent success rates. Cryotherapy is another upcoming method which has received a 50 to 70 percent positive response. Compression therapy which uses silicone gel filled compression dressing and topical corticosteroids are the least expensive and most commonly used methods of treatment. These have reported 40 to 50 percent success rate.
Complications
There are risks of possible complications with each of the therapies. The therapies treat the scars but could also cause cosmetic changes to the skin around it. There could be pain, irritation, tenderness and inflammation at the site of the keloid scar. If the scarring is extensive, the treatment could cause limited mobility. The most common complication is the slow recurrence of the keloid scar.
Considerations
Keloids can damage your appearance but they are not medically dangerous. If the scars are small enough, they can become less noticeable over the course of a few years. A keloid scar therapy is most likely to be successful if used immediately after the scar has formed. As a precaution, avoid exposing the scars to the sun as that could cause permanent darkening of the scar tissue.
Member Comments