Keloids can be considered to be "scars that don't know when to stop." A keloid, sometimes referred to as a keloid scar, is a tough heaped-up scar that rises quite abruptly above the rest of the skin. It is irregularly shaped and tends to enlarge progressively. Unlike scars, keloids do not subside over time.

Causes of keloids

Keloids happen from some skin injuries like surgical incision, traumatic wound, vaccination areas, burns, chickenpox, acnes, or even due to some minor scratch. They are very common in young females and African Americans. Keloids frequently run in families too.

Keloidosis is a term applied when there are multiple or recurring of keloids form. Most keloid flattens and become less observed over a period of several years but they can also become irritated by rubbing with clothing or other kinds of activities that involves frictions. Extensive keloids can become binding and surely can limit the overall movement of affected area. They can cause cosmetic changes and largely put impact on the overall look. Generally, exposing to the sunrays during the first year of the keloid's establishment causes the keloid to tan darker than their bordering skin. This dark discoloration might turn permanent.

Symptoms of keloids

Keloids are smooth, glossy, having color that of flesh, elevated growths made up of fibrous tissues forming over areas of injuries or any surgical wound. Keloids are an extreme overgrowth of scar tissues over any healed wound. They might form in the months after the skin is injured. They may be raised as much as ¼” above the surfaces of the skins anywhere. Keloids may form in any scars, even those resulting from severe acnes. They are much more common in black people than in white people and particularly develop on the chest, shoulder, backs, and, sometimes, faces and earlobe. Keloids might not hurt, but they may itch or can become sensitive in touching.

Complications of keloids

Psychological distress, in case, they are larger or disfiguring

Recurrence of keloids

Discomforts, tenderness, irritating lesions of the keloid

To pierce anywhere and the keloids

Keloids might develop following any minor injury that occurs with body piercing. Since doctors do not know that the precise reasons why some of the persons are more prone developing keloids, it is impossible for prediction whether piercing leads to keloids formation. Although there are some classes those seem prone to form keloids, largely, it is impossible to opine who develops keloids.

One person, for example, develops a keloid in one earlobe when he/she pierces but might not in the other at all! This makes the sense that, however, for someone who forms one keloid avoiding any elective surgeries or piercing, especially onto body areas might susceptible for scarring.

Treatments of keloids

Keloids generally require no remedy. Keloid might be reduced in size by freezing (called as cryotherapy), external pressures, cortico-steroidal injection, laser treatment and/or radiation or surgical removals. It is not generally for keloids to become recurred (somewhat larger than past) after they are been removed.

Discoloration from sunray exposure is to be prevented when one covers the forming keloids with some patch or Band-Aids, and another option is to use sunscreen lotions while spending time under the sun. Such extras protective measures should be continued for at least six months after any sort of injuries or surgeries for an adult, up to one and a half year for children.

Alternative therapies of keloids

In case, where keloids are result from scar tissues, typically from burns, to heal burn with minimal scar tissues becomes important to reduce or eliminate keloids. A number of herbal remedies, applied locally, can assist mild burns healing. Such herbs include Aloe (Aloe barbadensis or Aloe vera), Melaleuca spp (tea tree oil), Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum ( St. John's worts) and Symphytum officinale (comfrey root).

Nutritional supporting becomes particularly essential for burn victims. Supplements in the diet having vitamins A, C, and E, zinc and B Complex, essential fatty acids (omega-3 and 6) and to eat foods having rich in these nutrients can be very favorable to the heal the wounds. Protein and fluids’ intake must be increased to replace fluid losses.

Some traditional therapies such as Chinese medicine approach that food those remove heats and toxins, nourish the energy yin, and promote the output of body fluids is good for treating keloids. Such foods include mung bean, kidney bean, lima bean, soybean, cucumber, potato, summer squashes, sweet potato, and barleys. In addition, freshly extracted juice of the ginger, potato, and cucumber can be applied onto the burns for reducing pain and swelling.

The pulp of fresh pumpkins is also used as a poultice (soft compression that is applied onto the affected areas). Chamomile tea reduces anxiety. Homeopathic treatments are also said to be benefiting after the onset of the burn injuries. It is prescribed to keep blisters from building.