What Should You Know About Non-Surgical Keloid Removal?

A dermatologist chooses treatment according to the keloid's size, thickness, location, symptoms, and how the skin has responded to earlier care. Several approaches may be combined, and improvement is often gradual.

A keloid is scar tissue that grows beyond the original wound. It can follow acne, piercing, an operation, an injection, or a minor injury, and it may continue to feel firm, itchy, sore, or tight. Treatment does not simply rub away the scar; it changes the activity or bulk of the tissue.

Intralesional steroid injections place medicine into the raised scar to soften and flatten it. Cryotherapy freezes selected tissue and may be considered for a suitable lesion. Laser treatments can target redness or alter the scar's surface and texture. These choices have different effects and skin-colour considerations, so a consultation is needed before treatment.

Arrange an assessment if a raised scar is enlarging, repeatedly irritated, or affecting movement. Bring the date and cause of the original wound, previous treatments, medicines, and any history of scars becoming raised. Do not cut, pierce, burn, or apply unlabelled products to the keloid yourself.

After treatment, follow the clinic's wound-care instructions and protect the area from friction and strong sun while it heals. Tell the treating team about increasing pain, spreading redness, drainage, blistering, or a change in colour. If the scar returns after improvement, further treatment may be discussed. For background on injections, see [Steroid Injection Into The Skin](/treatments/injectables/intralesional-steroid-injection/); laser approaches include [Fractional Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/fractional-laser-treatment/) and [Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/pulsed-dye-laser-treatment/).

Seek prompt medical assessment for a rapidly enlarging lump, marked warmth or redness, pus, fever, bleeding that does not settle, or severe pain. These features can signal infection, irritation, or a different skin problem and should not be treated as a routine scar change.

A new or uncertain lump also deserves a proper examination before cosmetic treatment. A dermatologist can distinguish a keloid from other causes of [Skin Lumps](/symptoms/skin-lumps/) and explain whether a non-surgical plan is appropriate.

Ask which feature of the scar the proposed treatment is intended to change, how many visits may be needed, what skin changes can occur, and how recurrence will be monitored. Ask whether your skin tone, wound history, or current medicines affect the choice. If non-surgical care is unlikely to help, ask about [Keloid Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/keloid-excision/) and why it may or may not be suitable.