What should you know about silicone keloid treatment?

Keloids are raised scars that grow beyond the original injury. They can feel firm, itch, hurt, or affect movement when they sit near a joint. Silicone gel or sheets may reduce surface friction and support a healed scar, but they do not remove established tissue. Treatment aims may include reducing bulk, itch, tenderness, colour, or restriction, and more than one approach may be discussed.

The clinician first checks that the lump is a keloid rather than another scar type or skin lesion. [Acne](/conditions/acne/) and piercing-related inflammation can be part of the history, but they do not identify the lump by themselves.

Use silicone only on closed skin and follow the product’s cleaning and wear instructions. Avoid cutting into or repeatedly irritating the growth. Depending on the examination, options can include [Steroid Injection Into The Skin](/treatments/injectables/intralesional-steroid-injection/), [Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/pulsed-dye-laser-treatment/), [Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal)](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/cryotherapy-lesion-removal/), or [Keloid Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/keloid-excision/). Procedures have their own aftercare and the possibility of further scar growth, so the plan should be tailored.

Get the lump examined if it is changing, expanding past the original wound, painful, persistently itchy, or limiting movement. Seek prompt attention for bleeding, an open sore, warmth, pus, or sudden swelling. These signs can indicate irritation, infection, or a diagnosis other than a stable keloid.

Ask what outcome is realistic, whether silicone should continue around a procedure, how recurrence will be monitored, and which changes should trigger an earlier review.