Contents
What is keloid?
Keloids occur due to the overgrowth of scar tissue called collagen, a protein that develops around damaged skin and helps the wound to seal. This type of scar tends to be larger than the original wound itself and can end up taking weeks or months to fully develop.
The main characteristics of the keloid are: great thickness, hardening and reddish color, in addition to being itchy and painful. Some keloids grow up to 30 cm.
The places most likely to develop keloids are the shoulders, back and breasts, as they are areas of greater thickness. However, they can also appear on the ears after piercing with earrings and piercings.
Causes
Most types of skin lesions can contribute to the development of keloids, such as:
- Acne scar;
- Burns;
- Chickenpox scar;
- Piercing no body;
- Scratches and bruises;
- Places where a surgical incision has occurred;
- Places where vaccination took place.
There is still no consensus among doctors to understand exactly why keloids are formed, however, it is believed that it may be related to the individual’s genetics, that is, it is more likely that you will develop keloids if you have inherited your genes. country.
Read more: What are the ointment options for piercing keloids?
Groups of risk
Although keloids can affect any type of person, there are some risk groups that are more likely to develop it. Are they:
- Afro-descendent people;
- People who are in the age group between 10 and 20 years old;
- People of Asian and Hispanic descent.
Keloids can appear in people both male and female, however, it is more often noticed in women.
Symptoms of keloid
Symptoms of keloids can include:
- Body area that has a pink or red color;
- Lumpy area of skin that is usually raised;
- Area that continues to grow with scar tissue over time;
- Stain or itchy skin.
Keloids can be itchy, but they are not harmful to health. You may experience discomfort or irritation when the skin rubs against clothing.
It can also happen that you experience several keloids throughout your body, and the hardened aspect can make it difficult to move.
How is keloid diagnosed?
The diagnosis of keloids can be made by a specialist doctor, called a dermatologist, or by a general practitioner.
However, the doctor may not be able to differentiate the keloid from a hypertrophic scar, and with that, decide to perform a biopsy of a piece of skin. Thus, it is possible to rule out other diseases that occur on the skin and that can confuse the diagnosis, guaranteeing an adequate treatment.
Difference between keloid and hypertrophic scar
Both keloids and hypertrophic scars are abnormal forms of skin healing, as they lead to the appearance of large scars that can be aesthetically uncomfortable.
The keloid can take 3 to 4 months to appear and is a denser scar, with high relief and a more reddish color. In people who have a darker skin color, keloids can also be darker.
It is common in the keloid to have itching and pain in the injured region, especially after the first weeks where the wound was made, however, the main characteristic of the keloid is that it is not restricted to the area where the skin was injured. Keloids tend to “invade” healthy areas of the skin and around the wound, and can continue to spread over the years.
The hypertrophic scar appears on the injured area about two weeks later. In the first few months, it may even be large and reddish, but it tends to remain only in the area of the skin that is sore.
Another big difference is that the hypertrophic scar can regress over time. This process can take around 1 to 2 years, in which the scar becomes thinner and more similar to the color of the skin.
Is keloid curable? What is the treatment?
There are several treatments for keloids. They can vary from patient to patient and also with the size of the lesion ratio.
Ointments for keloids
There are some ointments indicated for the treatment of keloids that are available on the market. Are they:
Cicatricure
The product is a gel whose formula was created specifically to visibly improve scarred skin.
Cicatricure promises repair of the texture, reduction and improvement of the scar color. The average price is around R $ 45.00.
Skimatix
It has a gel aspect and its coloring is transparent. The product helps to maintain the moisture balance of the skin, while helping to maintain the surface to be healed.
The central promise is relief from itching and discomfort, as well as helping to reduce skin discoloration in the injured area. Its price varies around R $ 80.00.
Kelo-Cote
It can be used to prevent keloid formation in surgery, trauma or burns.
It should be used to reduce scarring when the wound is already closed. It can be found for an average price of R $ 215.00.
Contractubex
The main objective of this ointment is to improve the appearance of the scar, which can occur after burns, amputations and surgical interventions.
It can be used both on keloids and on hypertrophic scars, which may cause movement limitation. Its average price is R $ 45.00.
Aesthetic treatments
In addition to the ointments, there are some aesthetic treatments that can also be effective for keloids, they are:
Peeling
This treatment consists of the application of a chemical solution on the skin that, when in contact with it, helps to regenerate the layers and to fight other scars that may come to exist.
Cortisone injection
It is the most suitable treatment for keloids that are early or are still small. It assists in the reduction of scarring and irritation, as the medication is injected directly into the lesion at intervals that can vary between four and six weeks.
Cryosurgery
Treatment is done by freezing the lesion with liquid nitrogen and helping to decrease the size of the keloid, making it smoother and making the lump smaller. However, it is important to note that this treatment can make the skin lighter where the medication was applied.
Laser therapy
This therapy consists of exposing the skin to a laser that warms its surface layer, the epidermis and the part of the dermis.
The laser moves along the entire length of the scar and removes the most affected layers, causing the most natural layers of the skin to be exposed, which reduces the bulge and helps in lightening the keloid.
Betaterapia
This treatment can be done prior to surgical procedures and in people who already tend to develop keloids. Radiation is applied where there is a need to develop cuts to reduce the risk of scarring.
Home treatments
There are some home treatments that can be done to prevent and treat the appearance of keloids, however, it is worth noting that there is no guarantee of safety or proof of the real benefits of these treatments.
It is also recommended that during these treatments, you avoid exposure to the sun.
Sandalwood powder with pink water
Make a paste with these two ingredients and apply on the scar every night until the scar starts to become smaller.
Massages
Massaging the keloid with some ingredients can help reduce the scar. These foods are: lemon juice, honey, apple cider vinegar diluted in water or essential oils of marigold.
food
It is necessary for you to strengthen your immune system through the consumption of foods rich in vitamins C and E, which act directly on the restoration of the skin.
Living together
Keloids are difficult to hide because they are protruding, which can end up causing aesthetic discomfort. Therefore, it is important that you follow all medical recommendations so that the treatment has a satisfactory result.
Exposure to the sun can cause the scar to darken, so avoid being exposed for long periods in the sun. However, if sun exposure is really necessary, you can cover the keloid with a bandage.
How to disguise keloid with makeup
In addition to the treatment, if the keloid is bothering you aesthetically, you can cover the scar with makeup, using a base with high coverage and a concealer to disguise the imperfection.
When applying makeup to cover the keloid, do not put in excess product, as this can cause the makeup to look like a crackle. Try to use good quality products, which are waterproof and have full coverage, with that, one layer of the products will be enough.
If you think it is necessary, before starting the makeup, prepare your skin with a primer or a moisturizer, to ensure that the makeup is fixed for longer.
It is important to remember that keloids, which are very protruding or irregular, are more difficult to disguise.
Complications
Keloids are not a health problem in themselves, however, due to their size they can impair the patient’s aesthetics.
When they are very large, they can cause a certain limitation of mobility in the areas of the body that have been affected. In addition, they can also cause discomfort, tenderness in the injured area and irritation with the friction caused by the clothes.
How to prevent keloid?
If you have a personal or family history of keloids, you should try to avoid situations that can generate keloids.
If you have had keloids at least once, the wisest thing to do is to avoid implantation of piercings, especially in the ear and nose regions, which are the most sensitive regions of the body.
Keloids are an overgrowth of scar tissue called collagen, and while it does not pose any health risks, it can bother many people when it comes to aesthetics. So, share this article so that all your friends know how to treat keloids.
