How long does steroid injection into the skin take to work for keloid scars?

A keloid is scar tissue that grows beyond the original injury. Steroid placed inside it can reduce inflammatory activity and slow the processes that keep the scar thick and uncomfortable. Symptoms may improve before the keloid looks smaller. The treated area may remain firm for some time, and a keloid can respond in patches. Because keloids can become active again, improvement after an injection does not mean the scar can never recur.

Follow the clinic’s instructions for cleaning and protecting the injection site. Avoid picking, squeezing, or adding unapproved products to the scar. Keep review appointments so the clinician can check thickness, tenderness, colour, and the condition of nearby skin. Tell them about previous scar treatments, since that history can affect the next choice. Do not judge the final response from the first few days alone.

Report increasing warmth, redness, swelling, drainage, or pain at the injection site. Seek assessment if the skin breaks down or the keloid changes rapidly. A new indentation, visible small vessels, or a light or dark patch also deserves review because steroid can affect skin and fat around the treated area.

Ask which symptom should improve first, when the scar will be reassessed, and how recurrence will be watched. Ask whether the injection is suitable for the keloid’s size and site, and what alternatives may be discussed if it remains active.