What are keloids?
Keloids are enlarged scars that form from fibrous tissue. When the skin is cut, torn, or broken by injuries, the resulting wound is repaired and protected by a fibrous tissue called scar tissue. It is the body’s natural method of healing injured skin. However, in some cases, scar tissues progress with extra growth which is smooth and hard. These abnormal scar formations are called keloids.
Keloids are firm, pink, or purple bumps that rise quite abruptly above the rest of the skin and which can be itchy and irritating. They are commonly referred to as “scars that do not know when to stop” since they tend to enlarge progressively at the site of injury and can be much larger than the original wound.
Keloids can occur on any part of the body but are more common on the shoulders, chest, back, ears, and cheeks.

Causes of keloids
Since keloids form from wounds, skin injuries that can contribute to its formation include:
- Acne scars
- Burns
- Scars from diseases such as chickenpox scars
- Piercings
- Tattoos
- Scratches
- Insect bites
- Surgical incision sites
The exact cause of keloid formation is unknown, but it involves changes in cellular signals controlling reproduction and inflammation.
About 10% of people experience keloids, with those of African, Hispanic, and Asian descent being up to 15 times more likely to develop them. Keloids affect both genders equally and can occur at any age, though they are less common in children and the elderly. Genetic factors may also play a role.
Keloids can result from even minor injuries, with piercings being a common trigger, but the unpredictability of keloid formation makes it difficult to determine if a skin injury will lead to one.

Symptoms of keloids
From the time of the occurrence of the injury, it may take weeks or even months for keloids to develop fully.
Once developed, unlike scars, keloids do not regress over time. They are not life-threatening but can be aesthetically unpleasant.
While there is no guaranteed treatment, recognising early symptoms may help with managing the condition. Symptoms can be observed at the site of skin injury and can include:
A raised, shiny, dome-shaped lump
Pink to a red localised area
Itchy and irritable skin
The area is tender or even painful to the touch
The scar continues to grow larger over time

Severity of keloids
Keloids are not life-threatening and cases of complications are rare. However, they may cause psychological distress, depending on the appearance and location.
Keloids also tend to grow larger and may become more difficult to treat. Do not attempt to cut the keloid, since it might result in infections or lead to an even larger keloid developing.
Seek treatments if the keloids become larger and begin to become a bother, such as interfering with daily activities.
Keloids can occasionally become cancerous, but cases are very rare.

Treatments for keloids
Although it is unclear if the early treatment helps slow keloid growth, however, larger keloids are more difficult to treat so seeking the doctor’s advice early is recommended. No single treatment is guaranteed to work for all occurrences and treatment can be complex and difficult in some cases.
Methods of managing keloids include:

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