What are the complications of keloids?

There are generally few complications from keloidal scars. Depending on their appearance and location, they can cause some psychological distress, as keloids can be quite prominent. Keloids can also interfere with movement, especially if they are on a joint. Very rarely, keloids may become cancerous.

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What are the dangers of keloids?

A keloid scar is a thick raised scar. It can occur wherever you have a skin injury but usually forms on earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or the chest. If you're prone to developing keloids, you might get them in more than one place. A keloid scar isn't harmful to your physical health, but it can cause emotional distress.

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What are the complications of keloid treatment?

You'll likely need monthly injections for up to six months before seeing the scar flatten. Possible side effects of corticosteroid injections are skin thinning, spider veins and a permanent change in skin color (hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation).

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What disease is associated with keloids?

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are caused by cutaneous injury and irritation, including trauma, insect bite, burn, surgery, vaccination, skin piercing, acne, folliculitis, chicken pox, and herpes zoster infection.

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Can keloid become cancerous?

Abstract. Keloid is a skin disease characterized by exaggerated scar formation, excessive fibroblast proliferation, and excessive collagen deposition. Cancers commonly arise from a fibrotic microenvironment; e.g., hepatoma arises from liver cirrhosis, and oral cancers arise from submucosal fibrosis.

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Doctor explains KELOID SCARS including causes, treatment and prevention

15 related questions found

Are keloids ever cancerous?

No, keloids do not turn into cancer.

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Is keloid surgery risky?

The associated risk of keloid removal depends on the chosen modalities used during treatment, age of the scars and the patient's skin type. One of the most common problems patients report after keloid removal is new scar tissue forming post surgery.

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Should I be worried about keloids?

Keloids often do not need treatment. If the keloid bothers you, discuss your concern with a skin doctor (dermatologist). The doctor may recommend these treatments to reduce the size of the keloid: Corticosteroid injections.

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Should I surgically remove my keloid?

In some instances, a surgeon may recommend removing a large hypertrophic scar or keloid. Keloids that far exceed the margins of the original wound, for example, require removal to allow surgeons to reconstruct the surrounding skin and tissue and restore as much of the underlying structure as possible.

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Can keloids become permanent?

Keloids can continue to grow for months or even years. They eventually stop growing but they do not disappear without treatment. In some cases, as mentioned above, keloids can return after they have been removed.

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Does a keloid mean infection?

Keloids, also called keloid scars, are a type of scar tissue that usually grows at the site of an injury. They can also result from infection, inflammation, surgery, blisters, acne, and body piercings. It is not clear why keloids form, but they are harmless — they do not turn into cancer.

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Can you live with a keloid?

Keloids can be treated, so it is not a condition you have to continue living with. The treatment involves superficial radiation and is incredibly effective in removing keloid scars.

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What are the stages of keloids?

Keloids are a result of aberrant wound healing. Standard wound healing consists of three phases: (1) inflammatory, (2) fibroblastic, and (3) maturation.

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Do keloids ever go away naturally?

Conclusion: Keloids never completely disappear to leave skin with normal texture, however they can resolve (flatten and soften) so they no longer burden patients in approximately one third of cases. Scars resolving spontaneously do so early in the disease. Those that don't may resolve after many years of treatment.

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Why are keloids hard to get rid of?

Once you have them, keloids are notoriously difficult to eliminate and have a very high chance of re-growing once they are surgically cut out. This is because the body is likely to respond in the same exaggerated way to this surgery as it did to the initial injury.

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How do I know if my keloid is infected?

Keloids can become infected as they grow, with bleeding, pain and swelling. These infections can show up as systemic/ bloodstreams infections as well. Signs of an infected keloid include tenderness, pain and more warmer skin than the surrounding area.

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Can keloid scars grow internally?

Keloids only grow in the skin and do not spread inside the body (ie, not cancerous).

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How do doctors remove keloids?

Keloid surgery: Your dermatologist can surgically cut out the keloid. While this may seem like a permanent solution, it's important to know that nearly 100% of keloids return after this treatment. To reduce the risk of a keloid returning after surgical removal, most patients have another treatment after surgery.

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Are keloids a big deal?

Although anyone can get them, keloids are more common among darker-skinned people. Keloids can be painful or itchy but aren't usually dangerous to a person's health. However, depending on where they are located, they can be a cosmetic concern. Fortunately, there are many treatment options to help remove keloids.

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Can a keloid grow after 10 years?

They generally continue to grow over years and possibly decades.

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Is keloid an autoimmune disease?

Abstract. Background: Keloid is a fibrotic skin disease for which immune cell infiltration is a primary pathological hallmark. Meanwhile, in autoimmune diseases, triggering of the inflammation response can lead to tissue injury and subsequent organ fibrosis.

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What age is keloid common?

Age (10 and 30 years old): This is the peak time to develop keloids. Most people begin seeing keloids in their 20s. However, a keloid can develop at any time.

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Are keloids genetic?

Keloid disease is considered a genetic disease due to a strong genetic susceptibility to keloid formation as it occurs predominantly in people of African and Asian descent, runs in families, and has been found in twins.

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What is the best medicine for keloid?

Silicone gels and sheets work best on small keloids or as a preventative measure on fresh scars. Steroids. An injection of a corticosteroid can reduce the size of a keloid scar. In general, steroids reduce inflammation and redness.

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