What are Keloids?
Keloids are excessive growths of scar tissue that form over areas of injury or surgical wounds. Keloids affect people of all ages and are more frequent in African-Americans. Keloids are usually seen on the neck, legs, upper trunk, and chest. Keloids frequently follow the lines of injury and appear red, smooth, and shiny with regular or irregular ridges. Keloids developing on the ears after piercings do not carry the same risk of future keloids as the keloids in the other sites do.
Symptoms of Keloids
Keloids tend to be itchy, tender, and painful and can also interfere with the movement of limbs. The lesions usually grow back and sometimes are larger than before.
Treatment for Keloids
Treatment for keloids includes cortisone solutions injected into the scar at regular intervals, silicone gel sheeting and ointments, primary excision, and radiation therapy.
Drugs used to treat keloids include corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and antihistamines.
Immunomodulators are natural or synthetic substances that help regulate the immune system. They can be administered by injections or as topical creams. They work by interfering with aspects of the immune response at the wound site, leading to a decrease in collagen production and deactivation of fibroblasts. Topical immunomodulators include pimecrolimus, (Elidel and Douglan), tacrolimus, methotrexate, and penicillamine.
