What should you know about saline solution for keloid?

Sterile saline is mainly used to cleanse or irrigate skin in clinical care. It does not dissolve the dense scar tissue that makes a keloid firm, raised, itchy, or tender. A keloid can extend beyond the original wound, while a hypertrophic scar generally stays within it; an examination helps distinguish these from a cyst, infection, or another skin lump.

Keloids may follow acne, piercing, surgery, burns, or minor injuries. Avoid injecting, cutting, or repeatedly irritating a raised scar at home, because new trauma can stimulate more scar growth.

Arrange a dermatology assessment if a scar is enlarging, itchy, painful, or catching on clothing. Treatment may include [Steroid Injection Into The Skin](/treatments/injectables/intralesional-steroid-injection/), [Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/pulsed-dye-laser-treatment/), or [Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal)](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/cryotherapy-lesion-removal/). Surgery, including [Keloid Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/keloid-excision/), may require additional treatment because recurrence is possible.

Keep the area clean, avoid picking, and protect it from friction and sun. Do not apply a non-sterile solution to an open wound. A clinician may also discuss [Fractional Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/fractional-laser-treatment/) for selected scar changes.

Seek prompt medical review for rapidly increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever, sudden severe pain, or a wound that is opening. Urgent assessment is appropriate for facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or a lesion close to the eye. Any new or changing lump should be assessed rather than assumed to be a keloid.

Ask whether the scar is a keloid or another type of lesion, whether saline has any role beyond cleansing, and which treatment targets itch, thickness, colour, or discomfort. Ask how recurrence will be monitored after treatment.