What should you know about keloid skin?

A keloid may develop after acne, a piercing, an operation, a burn, or an unnoticed injury. It can feel firm or rubbery and may be smooth, shiny, darker, or pink compared with nearby skin. Unlike an ordinary scar that stays within the wound, a keloid can spread beyond its starting point. Skin lumps have other causes, so a clinician should confirm a diagnosis when the history or appearance is unclear.

Keep the area clean, reduce rubbing from straps or seams, avoid picking, and protect healed exposed skin from sunlight. Do not cut or puncture the growth. If symptoms persist or the scar is enlarging, dermatology treatment may include injections, silicone or pressure care, laser methods, freezing, or carefully planned surgery. The best choice depends on location, size, skin characteristics, symptoms, and previous treatment.

Arrange a review for growth, persistent itch, pain, tightness, movement restriction, or repeated irritation. Seek prompt attention for pus, fever, spreading redness, warmth, unexpected bleeding, or a rapidly changing lesion. Urgency is guided by these warning signs, not by assuming that every lump is a keloid.

Ask how the diagnosis was made, whether treatment is necessary, what recurrence precautions are available, and how to protect the site during healing. Mention any family tendency to keloids and previous reactions to scar treatments.