Keloid Scar
A keloid scar is a condition in which the scar continues to grow after the skin has regained its integrity during the wound healing process and becomes larger than the original wound. It can occur after any injury or damage to the skin, such as a skin cut, skin burn, surgical scars, acne, tattoo or piercing.
What is Keloid?
A keloid is a type of raised scar. Unlike other raised scars, keloids spread and grow much wider than the wound that caused the scar.
Why Keloid Occurs?
Not everyone with scars develops keloids. However, if you have keloid-prone skin, anything that can cause scarring can lead to keloid. This includes cuts, burns or infections such as severe acne or hair follicle infections, chicken pox. Some people can develop keloids after piercing their ears or getting a tattoo.
Sometimes a keloid can develop in a surgical scar.
Very rarely, keloids can also occur spontaneously without disrupting the integrity of the skin. These are called “spontaneous keloids”.
It usually takes time for a keloid to appear. After an injury, it can take months for a keloid to appear. Once it starts, a keloid can grow slowly over months or years.
Can Keloid Turn into Cancer?
Keloids do not turn into cancer.
How Much Can Keloids Expand?
Keloids vary in size and shape. They’re most likely to appear as a round, firm mass on an earlobe, while when a keloid forms on the shoulder or chest, the raised scar tends to spread out across the skin.
Does Keloid Itch? Does Keloid Hurt?
As these raised scars grow, they can feel painful or itchy. A keloid that covers a joint or a large area can reduce a person’s ability to move that part of the body. Treatment can help reduce symptoms such as pain and itching. If the scar makes it difficult to move, treatment can help a person regain some movement.
