Keloid - Medtick
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Keloid

What is it?

A keloid is a special type of scar , where the scar grows and can even become larger than the original wound.

Why does this happen?

  • In normal scarring, the collagen breaks down once the wound has healed, but this fails to happen during the formation of a keloid scar.
  • Collagen plays an important part in wound healing, attracting wound healing cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes)
  • Excessive fibroblast proliferation (growth) and the deposition of matrix and collagen fibres causes the scar to expand from its original boundaries and continue to grow even after the wound has healed.

Nakashima M, Chung S, Takahashi A, et al. A genome-wide association study identifies four susceptibility loci for keloid in the Japanese population. Nat Genet. 2010;42:768–71. doi:10.1038/ng.645

Cause

  • Family history
  • Being of Asian heritage (higher skin colour)
  • Being of Latino heritage (high in skin colour)
  • Being younger than 30 (peak age 10- 30 years old)
  • Acne scars
  • Bites
  • Burns
  • Chickenpox scars
  • Pregnant
  • Scratches

Treatments

  • ear piercing
  • Surgical incision sites
  • Tattoos
  • Vaccination sites

Syndromes

Symptoms

  • Come up after very minor skin damage, such as an acne spot, or even if there has been no obvious damage to the skin at all?
  • Shiny and hairless?
  • Feel hard and rubbery?
  • New ones are often red or purple?
  • Painful, itchy and/or cause a burning sensation?
  • Spread outside the original area of skin damage?
  • Last for many years (can develop after months or years after initial skin injury/cause)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

General tips

Although they cannot be completely prevented, the following advice to patients prone to the development, or at risk of keloid scars:

  • Avoid deliberate cuts or breaks in the skin such as tattoos and piercings.
  • Treating inflammatory acne will also minimise the risk of scarring.
    • This can be done effectively with a combination of oral antibiotics and topical treatments.
  • If possible, avoid minor surgical procedures in areas that are prone to keloids

Keloid scars. NHS. 2019.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/keloid-scars
(accessed Apr 2022).

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Keloid in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

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  • Verywell Health

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  • DR Axe

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Products

  • Silicone gel is effective in the management of keloids and is thought to work by increasing the temperature and hydration, causing the scar to soften and flatten.
  • Silicone gel, either as a topical gel or impregnated elastic sheet, requires covering the entire scar for at least 12 hours a day for up to 6 months.

Cryotherapy. National Library of Medicine. 2018.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.
gov/books/NBK482319/
(accessed Apr 2022).

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