Breaking free from Keloid scars: Removal methods that work
Fibrous tissues called scar tissue form over the wound when the skin is healed after injury. When extra scar tissue grows beyond the boundary of the original injury and forms smooth, hard growths are called keloids. They are large and noticeable scars that are not dangerous to health but can cause cosmetic issues.
What are the symptoms of keloid?
The symptoms of keloid include:
- Red, dark, pink, or purple color scar: Keloids are raised scars in red, pink, or dark brown, and the color tends to darken with time.
- Appear slow growth: The first sign of keloids is shown in 3 months up to a year, and it takes weeks or months to grow.
- Enlargement over time: Keloids grow larger over time and continue to increase in size even after the wound has healed.
- Feel different than surrounding skin: Keloids feel soft, doughy, complex, and rubbery.
- Causes discomfort (itching): Keloids may be itchy, tender, or painful to touch, causing distress, which may affect daily activities and overall well-being.
- Prolonged presence: Keloid scars remain long and may not naturally flatten over time like normal scars.
How to remove keloid scar, or what is keloid treatment?
Effective keloid scar removal methods and keloid treatment include:
- Wearing silicon gel sheets: Silicon gel sheets hydrate the skin, soften and flatten the scar tissues, and reduce the appearance of keloids over time.
- Pressure treatment: Keeping pressure on the scar reduces blood flow after keloid surgery and prevents the keloid from returning. Pressure garments and a pressure dressing are followed to flatten the keloid scar, which applies constant pressure to the affected area.
- Steroid injections: Cortisone or other steroids or combining steroid triamcinolone and chemo drug 5- fluorouracil is injected to reduce the thickness and inflammation. It inhibits the excessive production of collagen, which is a crucial factor in keloid formation.
- Cryotherapy: In this therapy, small keloids might be reduced or removed, flattened or faded over time by freezing them with liquid nitrogen
- Laser treatment: High beam-focused light energy resurfaces the keloid and surrounding skin, breaks down collagen, and creates a smoother, toned appearance.
- Surgical removal: Surgical removal may be recommended for very large, well-established, and older keloid scars. It involves cutting out the keloid and suturing the wound. The surgical removal is often combined with other treatments, like steroid injections or radiation therapy.
- Radiation therapy: Low-level X-ray radiations alone or after keloid surgical removal are used for shrinking and minimizing scar tissue. Home treatment: applying and messaging with aloe vera gel, honey, vitamin E oil, and moisturizing oils are natural home remedies that reduce the scar size without worsening it..
Keloid Resection and postoperative low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT0) <6 -24h
Professor Dr. Robert Hierner offers combined Keloid treatment in Dubai– surgical resection, postoperative low-grade radiation therapy within the first 6 to 12 hrs after surgery to reduce the early wound healing cascades and prevent the reoccurence of keloid.
How to prevent keloid scars?
Consider the following things to minimize the risk:
- Prevent skin injuries that lead to keloid scarring.
- Stick with the routine of keeping the wound clean and covered to reduce the chances of keloid formation.
- Avoid sun exposure, which results in tanning, which makes the scar tissue darker than your surrounding skin.
- Using silicon gel pads or sheets on recent surgical invention or after an injury minimizes scar formation and help in preventing keloids.
- Wear pressure earrings to reduce scarring on earlobes after ear piercing to reduce the risk of keloid formation.
What is the risk associated with keloid removal treatment?
Common risk factors of keloid treatment include:
- Post-surgery scarring after keloid removal surgery.
- Laser treatment can increase scarring and redness.
- Cryotherapy can cause blistering, pain, and loss of skin color.
- The side effects of corticosteroid injection are skin thinning, spider veins, and a permanent color change.
- Even after successful flattening or removal, keloids can reoccur, sometimes more extensive than previous ones, or may develop new ones.
Common risk factors of keloid treatment include:
- Post-surgery scarring after keloid removal surgery.
- Laser treatment can increase scarring and redness.
- Cryotherapy can cause blistering, pain, and loss of skin color.
- The side effects of corticosteroid injection are skin thinning, spider veins, and a permanent color change.
- Even after successful flattening or removal, keloids can reoccur, sometimes more extensive than previous ones, or may develop new ones.
Consult Professor Dr. Robert Hierner for keloid scar removal in Dubai
Professor Dr. Robert Hierner is a well-qualified plastic surgeon in Dubai with an outstanding international reputation in scar removal. He is currently practicing as an exclusive plastic surgeon at the Dubai cosmetic surgery clinic.
Prof Dr. Robert has more than 30 years of experience, offers the most modern procedures effortlessly, and provides comprehensive scar removal in Dubai to reduce and minimize the scale.