Keloid on Leg: What to Know

A keloid may feel hard, rubbery, itchy or sore and can grow outside the edges of a cut, injection, surgical wound, bite or piercing. A scar that stays within the wound outline may be hypertrophic instead. On the leg, rubbing from tight clothing, sports equipment or footwear can keep the area irritated; scratching can damage the surface. Redness, warmth, pus and increasing pain suggest infection rather than scar growth and require different care. A clinician may use the history and examination to distinguish these possibilities from other Skin Lumps.

Keep the area clean, avoid friction and protect it from repeated knocks. Do not cut, pierce, burn or squeeze the tissue. If the lump is enlarging, itchy, painful or catching on clothing, book a dermatology review. Treatment may involve Steroid Injection Into The Skin, pressure or silicone care, cryotherapy, or laser treatment. Keloid Removal Surgery can be discussed for suitable lesions, usually alongside a plan intended to reduce regrowth. The best option depends on the scar’s depth, position, symptoms and previous treatment.

Seek prompt assessment for spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus, fever, red streaks or rapidly worsening pain. Get urgent help for severe swelling, loss of movement, uncontrolled bleeding, or a wound that opens. Even if it is comfortable, arrange a review when a scar grows quickly, changes colour or develops an ulcer, because a diagnosis should come before treatment.

Ask whether the scar is a keloid or another lesion, whether pressure or injections are appropriate for its position, what activity restrictions apply after treatment, and how you should watch for regrowth.