Keloids

Keloids are raised gigantism of scar tissue that occur at the site of a skin injury. A keloid scar is benign, non-infectious and usually accompanied by severe itchiness, sharp pains and changes in texture. Keloids, by contrast, may begin some time after the inequity and extend beyond the wound site. This tendency to transmigrate into surrounding areas that weren't injured to begin with distinguishes keloids from hypertrophic scars.

Keloids are stable, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules and can array from pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown in color. Keloids should not be bewildered with hypertrophic scars, which are raised scars that do not grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound and may reduce over time.

Keloids basically resemble following surgery or injury, but they can also appear spontaneously or as a result of some slight inflammation, such as an acne pimple on the chest. Exposure to the sun during the first year of the keloid's development will cause the keloid to tan darker than girdling skin. This dark coloration might become permanent.

Keloids usually are not clinically dangerous, but they may affect the cosmetic appearance. Keloids are less common in children and the aged. Though people with darker skin are more likely to develop them, keloids can arise in men and women of all skin types. In few cases, the tendency to form keloids appears to run in families. Keloids are most commonly situated on the chest, upper back, and shoulders. Although, they can appear almost anywhere, such as in surgical scars any place on the body and in the earlobes or other areas which have been pierced for cosmetic intentions. They usually occur between 10 and 30 years of age and affect both sexes equally, though they may be more frequent among young women having pierced ears.

Keloids may form over the breastbone in people who have had open heart surgery. Keloids generally want no treatment. Keloids may be abbreviated in size by freezing, external pressure, corticosteroid injections, laser treatments, radiation, or surgical removal.

Causes of Keloid

Keloids often pass in families. They are fairly frequent in young women and African Americans. They normally occur between 10 and 30 years of age and affect both sexes equally, though they may be more common among young women having pierced ears. Keloids may form over the breastbone in people who have had open heart surgery. Keloid may become irritated from rubbing on clothing or other kinds of friction. Keloids occur from such skin injuries as surgical incisions, traumatic wounds, vaccination sites, burns, chickenpox, acne, or even minor scratches. Comprehensive keloids may become binding, limiting mobility. Keloids are a cosmetic vexation and never become malignant.

Common causes and risk factors of Keloid:

A deficiency or an excess in melanocyte hormone.
Family history of Keloid.
Various skin injuries as surgical incisions.
Exposure to the sun.
Skin trauma.

Signs and Symptoms of Keloid

Keloids are raised and appear shiny and dome-shaped, differeing in color from pink to red. Few keloids become quite large and hideous. Keloids typically begin as small lumps at the site of a skin injury and gradually grow beyond the margins of the original wound, but do not penetrate below the surface. They can form in any area of the body that suffers repeated tension or motion.

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

The red or dark color patches.
Feeling of irritation or pain.
Raised and hard scars.
Continued growth and claw like projections.
Restriction of movement.

Treatment for Keloid

Keloids may be reduced in size by freezing, external pressure, corticosteroid injections, laser treatments, radiation, or surgical removal. Discoloration from sun exposure can be prevented by covering the forming keloid with a patch or Band-Aid, and by using sunblockers when spending time in the sun. Two or more treatments may be combined. If you decide to pursue treatment for a keloid scar, you will have the best results if you start treatment soon after the keloid appears.

Treatment may include:

Radiation treatments may reduce scar formation if they are used soon after a surgery, during the time a surgical wound is healing.
Injections with triamcinolone acetonide or another corticosteroid medicine typically are repeated at intervals of four to six weeks. This treatment may reduce keloid size and irritation, but injections are uncomfortable.
The keloids disease may be treated with lasers.
Moist wound coverings made of silicone gel sheets have been shown in studies to reduce the size of keloids over time. This treatment is safe and painless.
The treatment of keloids with liquid nitrogen is very beneficial for fast recovery.

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