What should you know about keloid skin treatment?

A keloid is scar tissue that grows beyond the original wound boundary after skin injury, piercing, acne, or surgery. It may feel firm, raised, itchy, tender, or tight, and its colour can differ from nearby skin. A keloid is not the same as a scar that stays within the wound outline.

Treatment aims may include reducing height, softness, itch, tenderness, or colour contrast. The plan depends on whether the scar is active and enlarging, how long it has been present, and whether it has returned after earlier treatment.

A dermatologist may use steroid medicine injected into the scar to reduce excess scar activity. Laser treatment can target redness or improve surface texture in selected cases. Cryotherapy freezes scar tissue and may be considered for suitable smaller lesions, while surgery removes the bulk of a keloid but needs a plan to lower the chance of regrowth. Do not cut, burn, or repeatedly irritate the area at home.

Protect the scar from friction and sun exposure, keep any wound care instructions, and tell the clinician about prior treatments, skin sensitivity, and any tendency to form raised scars.

Arrange a dermatology assessment if a raised scar is growing, repeatedly itching, stinging, painful, or restricting movement. Seek prompt medical care if it becomes rapidly more swollen, hot, increasingly red, drains pus, or you develop fever, because these changes can signal infection or another problem rather than ordinary scar activity.

Ask which feature of the scar the proposed treatment targets, how many sessions may be needed, how the skin may look while healing, and what follow-up will help detect regrowth early.