Can Keloid Scars Be Removed?

Dr. Andrea Suarez, dermatologist, explains the best way to tackle it:

A menu of options

Per Dr. Suarez, keloid scars can be substantially improved through a combination of treatments, but there isn’t a single best treatment, and it makes a difference where it is.

The most go-to options are:

• Intralesional medication: steroids such as triamcinolone can induce atrophy, soften, and flatten keloids.
• Compression therapy: tight bandages, specialized compression earrings, or other compression methods can reduce frictional forces and possibly decrease blood flow to the keloid. Silicone scar sheets can also be part of the treatment strategy, although they won’t eliminate a keloid.
• Surgical excision: removing a keloid surgically carries a high risk of recurrence, particularly in people who readily form keloids, so surgery needs to be approached carefully and usually combined with other treatments.
• Other treatments: certain lasers can be used for resurfacing or targeting blood vessels, and radiation therapy and other intralesional treatments may also be effective.
• Specialist care: advanced cases may benefit from clinics specializing in keloid treatment, including dermatology specialists who manage extensive or hereditary keloid formation.

So in other words: the professional dermatologist would you to know you should see a professional dermatologist!

She does also add more about “keratoma”, and that you should know this isn’t a specific diagnosis, and you should ask for more specificity if a clinician tells you just that.. The person may be referring to anything from cancer to seborrheic keratoses, which are benign skin growths. There isn’t much that can be done to prevent them from developing or returning. Although one paper suggests topical diclofenac may shrink them, using it on the eyelids isn’t recommended because of the potential for irritation around the delicate eye area, unless it’s really necessary.

For more on all of this plus some visual illustrations, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

You might also like:

Scars? How To Minimize & Heal Them ← for a more general approach, from our Q&A session

Take care!