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Keloids

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Hypertrophic scar; Keloid scar; Scar - hypertrophic

Treatment:

Keloids often require no treatment. Keloids may be reduced in size by freezing ( cryotherapy ), external pressure, corticosteroid injections, laser treatments, radiation, or surgical removal. It is not unusual for keloids to reappear (sometimes larger than before) after they have been removed.

Discoloration from sun exposure can be prevented by covering the forming keloid with a patch or Band-Aid, and by using sunblockers when spending time in the sun. These extras protection measures should be continued for at least 6 months after injury or surgery for an adult, up to 18 months for a child.

Expectations (prognosis):

Keloids usually are not medically dangerous, but they may affect the cosmetic appearance. In some cases, they may spontaneously reduce in size over time. Removal or reduction may not be permanent, and surgical removal may result in a larger keloid scar.

Complications:

• Psychological distress if keloid is large or disfiguring
• Recurrence of keloid
• Discomfort, tenderness, irritation of the keloid

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if keloids develop and removal or reduction is desired, or new symptoms develop.

• Review Date: 10/16/2006
• Reviewed By: Michael S. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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