Keloid Acne Health Channel

Definition

Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue at the site of a healed skin injury.

Alternative Names

Hypertrophic scar; Keloid scar; Scar - hypertrophic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Keloids occur from such skin injuries as surgical incisions, traumatic wounds, vaccination sites, burns, chickenpox, acne, or even minor scratches. They are fairly common in young women and African Americans. Keloids often run in families. Keloidosis is a term used when multiple or repeated keloids occur.

Most keloids will flatten and become less noticeable over a period of several years. They may become irritated from rubbing on clothing or other forms of friction. Extensive keloids may become binding, limiting mobility. They may cause cosmetic changes and affect the appearance.

Exposure to the sun during the first year of the keloid's formation will cause the keloid to tan darker than surrounding skin. This dark coloration may become permanent.

Symptoms

A skin lesion that is:

• Flesh-colored, red, or pink
• Located over the site of a wound, injury, or other lesion
• Nodular or ridged

The lesion may itch during formation and growth

Signs and tests

Diagnosis is made on the basis of the appearance of the skin or scar. A skin biopsy may be needed to rule out other skin growths (tumors).

Treatment

Keloids often require no treatment. Keloids may be reduced in size by freezing (cryotherapy), external pressure, corticosteroid injections, laser treatments, radiation, or surgical removal.