Keloids are scars that become larger after the initial wound heals.

This image displays a red, firm keloid (scars that continue to grow) on the earlobe.

This image displays dark red to brown, large keloids.

This image displays keloids from acne scars.

Keloids can appear bright red and inflamed.

A keloid usually occurs at a trauma site, such as a scratch, overgrowing beyond the area of damage.

Images of Keloid (6)

Keloid

Keloids are dense, thick nodules (solid, raised bumps that are firm to the touch) or plaques (raised or bumpy areas larger than a thumbnail) typically found at areas of previously injured skin (such as burns, cuts, and piercings), or they may arise spontaneously on healthy skin. Over weeks to months, keloids can become painful and itchy, and they may grow to become very large, up to about 30 cm. They can be disfiguring, and individuals with keloids often seek removal.

Who's At Risk?

Keloids affect people of all ages, but most people start developing keloids in their 20s. Keloids can appear in people of any race / ethnicity. The areas of the skin that are prone to keloid formation include the neck, ear lobes, legs, arms, and upper trunk. If you have a keloid, you are at risk of more keloids forming in these areas whenever the skin is injured.

Signs & Symptoms

Keloids are usually seen on the neck, ear lobes, legs, arms, and on the upper trunk, especially the chest. They frequently appear in the site of a previous injury. Keloids that arise spontaneously are common on the middle of the chest. Keloids are smooth, shiny, firm to the touch, and may have regular or irregular ridges. In lighter skin colors, they are often skin-colored, pink, or reddish. In darker skin colors, they are skin-colored or any shade of brown. Keloids may grow larger than the original area of injury.

Self-Care Guidelines

Avoid unnecessary skin injury, such as getting piercings. Some keloids respond to silicone sheeting (eg, Nuvadermis Scar Sheets) applied to the skin on an ongoing basis for months. The sheeting may soften and flatten the keloid somewhat, although usually not completely.

Treatments

Keloids are difficult to treat, but your medical professional may try the following:

Silicone gel sheeting, if not previously used.
There has been some success in treating small earlobe keloids with pressure or “clip-on” earrings.
Keloids often respond to steroid injections, such as triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog), into the keloid. There is a risk of skin lightening (hypopigmentation) with steroid injections.

Alternative therapies include:

Freezing (cryosurgery) plus steroid injections.
Surgery followed by steroid injections to the affected area. Note, however, that surgical removal of keloids may lead to the keloid coming back (recurring) larger than it was before the excision, and repeated steroid injections may be needed to prevent this complication.
Laser therapy with a pulsed-dye laser for lesions that are actively growing / enlarging.

Visit Urgency

Seek medical evaluation if keloids become bothersome or cause pain or itch.

Trusted Links

Clinical Information and Differential Diagnosis of Keloid

References

Bolognia J, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018.

James WD, Elston D, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA. Andrew’s Diseases of the Skin. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019.

Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, et al. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.

Paller A, Mancini A. Paller and Mancini: Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 6th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022.

Last modified on February 27th, 2023 at 7:48 pm

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