Keloid treatment

by S. C.

A keloid can be defined as an outgrowth that manifests in the form of an abnormal scar. It occurs due to an excess growth of granular tissues. Keloids can develop in any location of the body where a scuff has occurred. These can be the result of burns, chemical reactions, insect bites, hives, excessive scratching or other disturbances in the skin. Many a time severe infection and skin trauma are the causes of such growth in the skin. Many people get these scars after a surgery. Common locations of keloid include back, shoulders, chest, feet and ear lobes.

Signs and symptoms
The website has given a detailed account on Keloid scars that is generally divided into two broad categories. The first one is the hairy type. The other type of scar includes the proliferated growth. The hairy one generally appears on the chest or shoulder. At the onset, it looks like a small red spot and is itchy. As one starts scratching the area, it develops into bigger scars, hard to touch and comes in sporadic shapes and sizes. The other type of scar is popularly called proliferative scars. These are classified as acne scars and cancer scars. These scars (as mentioned above) are the caused due to various external reasons such as burns, infections, skin trauma and so on. In case of these scars, the color becomes red. There is also a persistent irritation on the area. The symptoms shoot up if the person drinks substantial amount of alcohol or consumes oily and spicy food.

Prevention and treatment
There are various treatments for keloids. The treatment depends on the area where the keloid has occurred and also with the discomfort associated with it. It has to be noted that surgery is not recommended for all kinds of keloids. In most cases, a recurrence after the surgery appears which proves to be even more futile.
There are some homemade and other simple preventive methods to reduce the scar. Here the site talks about the various creams, lotions and gels that reduce the scar. One can use creams that contain onion extracts for treating keloid scars. The patient needs to apply a thick layer of the cream on the ear scar at least twice a day.
The application of a silicone dressing that can be placed over the scar for a few weeks continuously is considered to be an effective technique in reducing the size and appearance of the keloid to a great extent. Another technique mentioned on the site is compression with the help of silicone sheet. A continuous compression for a few months may reduce the size of the scar.
A steroid injection of corticosteroids can be given to someone having scars. This reduces swelling and improves the overall appearance of the scar. Even though the injections reduce the size of the scar, these are often uncomfortable and painful for the patient.
Laser treatment is another advanced method of smoothing the scar, thereby making it less visible, is a fairly good method of scar removal. Laser therapy should be combined with steroid injections followed by silicone sheeting to achieve better results.