Scar Removal: Q&A
Ask a QuestionWhat is the Best Keloid Treatment?
i am an african american, male, 39 yrs old that wants to get rid of a keloid that appears on my ear lobe. my family dr said i need steroid injections. but is that the safest keloid treatment? what other options are there?
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19 Doctor Answers |
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anon
+5
Treatment for Keloids is Difficult
As others have noted, effective treatment of keloids can be very difficult. The reason for this is that keloids are an abnormal response to injury, and area of scar tissue that grows beyond its natural boundaries. On examination of a piece of Keloid tissue under a microscope, it looks substantially different than the average scar. The initial phase of treatment is to slow the inflammation, ergo the use of several spaced injections. The next option is to excise the...
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Keloid Treatments
Keloids can be very resistant to treatment. Treatment options can involve any of the following (and also involve combinations of the therapies listed below).
1. Steroid treatment - this usually requires multiple treatments. If the keloid is large enough this can leave excess skin after successful treatment. Steroid treatment can cause tissue atrophy and for african american skin or other darker skin types can also cause hypopigmentation.
2. Excision - While the mechanism for...
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+4
Keloids: Diagnosis is the key!
How a scar looks is dependent on a number of different things:
Genetics
Type of injury: surgical vs. traumatic
Type of repair: was the cut sutured or left to heal on its own.
Treating keloid scars is often very frustrating for a patient as there is a large chance of recurrence. The main determinant of scar treatment is the diagnosis. I have seen countless patients in my Santa Monica plastic surgery office who have been told that they have keloid scars when in fact...
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Keloid for earlobes - best treatment options
Keloids are notoriously difficult to treat. The most successful treatments are combination. Depending on the size of the keloid, surgery may be first part. Then adding steroid injections and compression to the regimen will further reduce the recurrence rate. To further minimize the chance of the keloid coming back, you may even consider radiation therapy. Good luck.
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Keloids need expert care
It is important to work with a physician who has significant experience with Keloids - as in this case experience matters greatly. There are many options for treating keloids including pressure, injections of cortisone, and surgery. When considering surgery, we have found the use of Radio-frequency surgery to be far superior than the conventional scalpel. This allows meticulous dissection of the scar tissue without any crush (from a blade) or thermal damage.
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There are several treatments for keloids
Keloids are thick scars that form after injury or trauma, but can also occur on their own. They can happen anywhere on the body but are common on the earlobes and trunk (especially the chest and upper back). Any form of injury to the skin, including surgery, ear/body piercing, accidental injury, or a tattoo can cause a keloid.
You should consult a board-certified dermatologist to discuss the treatment options. Steroid injections are often helpful for small keloids or to prevent...
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Keloids respond to steroids and radiotherapy
For indiviuals like yourself prone to keloid formation, having the keloid excised and injected postoperatively may prevent recurrence of the keloid. If the keloid does recurr, conmsult a radiotherapist in your are that does this superficial radiotherapy- it can reduce recurrence by more than 80%.
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Keloid treatments
Often keloid treatments of the ears require a multi modality approach with the following therapies:
Surgical excision- In some cases the keloid must be excised because other therapies are not effective. Surgery alone is rarely effective in managing keloids
Kenalog injections- Kenalog injections decrease the collagen response and help improve the chances of keloids from returning.
Pressure clip earrings- Pressure on the ears is thought to decrease the collagen...
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True keloids are hard to improve
Hopefully you do not have a "true Keloid," but rather a hypertrophic scar. You need to be evaluated to discern the difference. Keloids tend to recur and spread widely out of the wound from which they were formed. Radiation therapy is a seemingly drastic option after surgery for Keloid scars that seems to work.
Best Regards.
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Keloid treatments
Keloids are actual tumors of scar tissue. They are an abnormal response to injury and occur often after minor trauma (earlobe piercing, shaving of the beard). The defining characteristics are the growth of the scar outside of the area of injury. The scar is composed of massive amount of collagen when looked at under the slide. In theory, it is an abnormal inflammatory response which may be the underlying cause. No singular treatment works best and often a combined approach is necessary. Here...
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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