What is a Keloid Scar?  

A keloid scar is an abnormal scar where the scar covers a larger area of the skin than was originally damaged. Keloid scars are often characterized by bumpy patches of raised skin that is like a mountain range forming over the injured site, and are usually darker than the original color of the skin. People with darker skin are more susceptible to keloid scars. Keloid scarring tends to itch and the area that is affected can be numb and uncomfortable. Although no one knows exactly what causes this kind of scarring, it seems to stem from tension present in the muscle or the skin. Common areas of the skin that are affected by keloid scarring include piercing sites on the skin, as well as tattoos and deeper skin cuts and abrasions.

Can Keloid Scars be Prevented?

Although many experts claim there is nothing that can be done to avoid keloid scarring, there are some precautions you can take to save your skin from excessive damage. Do not get any tattoos or piercing if keloid scarring is prevalent in your family and you are worried about being affected. Keep your skin moist and relaxed in general to decrease the tension in your skin and muscles. Eat collagen rich foods or take a collagen supplement to help your skin better repair its wounds. Take a multivitamin aimed towards skin health rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Silica, a natural form of collagen.

How to Treat Keloid Scars  

There are several ways to treat keloid scars, but there are no guaranteed treatment methods or quick fixes :

Surgical Treatment

Surgical treatment is an option where the scar tissue is removed by a knife or a laser. Surgical treatment has a high recurrence rate and is invasive. Another surgical option is to have the scar injected with steroids, but this treatment also has a high rate of keloid scar recurrence.

Radiation Therapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment option for keloid scarring that is usually used in combination with another surgical treatment option. The theory is that radiation affects and slows skin growth, so the use of radiation may decrease the production of the excess skin that is causing the scarring.

Drug Therapy

The drug therapy for keloid scarring is called interferon therapy. This therapy involves the patient taking drugs that affect the immune system and help take the scarring down. Drug therapy has many side effects, however, and many people obtain the best results through drug therapy by combining it with topical therapy options.

Topical Therapy

Topical therapy treatments are focused on breaking up the keloid scar by softening the skin through a compress, cream or ointment. Cocoa butter applied directly on the scar several times a day is known to reduce dark coloration and help smooth the skin of a keloid scar. Vitamin E can also be applied directly to the scar to help strengthen and soften the surrounding skin and help flatten the scar.

Related Articles
	Keloids These are prominent, irregular scar tissues which are formed after a person suffers from a small cut or scratch in the skin. Generally a bump appears at the site of the injury. The bumps get large and over a period of time full blown keloids develop. At times keloids develops spontaneously   ...Read more		Folliculitis Keloidalis Nuchae It is a chronic condition which involves scalp and the back of the neck. Folliculitis Keloidalis Nuchae generally occurs in African American men. People in the age of fifteen to thirty years of age are more likely to be affected by Folliculitis Keloidalis Nuchae. It is very difficult to treat ...Read more

Post this article on:
	Mixx.com		Digg.com		Netscape.com		Yahoo.com		Google.com		StumbleUpon