Stephen Hilt asked:


Keloid scars are very unique as they are the only scar which can expand beyond the boundaries of the original scar.

Keloids, like other scars, typically develop following a trauma to the skin. Typical skin traumas that result in Keloid scars are cuts, or abrasions such as when the skin is scraped against a hard surface. Other traumas include puncture wounds such as those resulting from a piercing or from a skin disease such as acne or chickenpox.

Once a Keloid develops, there are a variety of treatment options to choose from. However, you essentially have two main choices: treat the Keloid using a topical scar gel or have it surgically removed either via traditional surgical techniques or a laser treatment.

Let’s begin with surgery. While you may assume that this is the obvious answer, take a moment to think about the inherent risks involved with surgery. Not only are you subjecting yourself to the potential of an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, but are also not guaranteed of having the Keloid removed forever. This is because another Keloid may develop following the surgery. Of course, there is also the hefty price to consider.

While some of those with Keloid scars do have medical insurance, the reality is that those without insurance can expect to pay a lot of money to have their Keloids removed. It should be noted that some doctors prefer injecting the scar with steroids or cortisone rather than surgically removing the scar.

The other popular treatment option is to diminish the appearance of a Keloid using a topical scar treatment. Using a scar gel may not produce immediate results, but compared to surgery, using a scar treatment gel is less expensive and less risky. However, not all scar treatments are created the same. There are scar creams, gels, and silicone sheeting to choose from.

Scar creams have been proven to be effective, but only if they contain silicone. This is because silicone is the single most important ingredient in an effective scar treatment. This is why it may be in your best interest to just bypass scar creams and instead choose a scar gel. This is because a scar cream has a greater potential to stain your clothes.

That leaves two options, scar gels and silicone sheeting. Scar sheeting is essentially composed of silicone and is placed over the scar. The good thing about using sheeting is that it is made from silicone which has proven to be effective in treating scars including Keloid scars. However, the problem with these sheets is that they are not only expensive, but that they sometimes loose contact with the scar during movement.

This is why out of the three main choices for a topical scar treatment the best choice is to use a silicone scar gel. This is because the silicone gel forms a protective barrier over the scar that will naturally conform to your movement and will never loose contact with the scar. The barrier formed by using a silicone scar gel will not only help protect the scar from physical elements, but will also allow the Keloid to retain moisture from the surrounding healthy portions of the skin and therefore help flatten and heal the scar.

In conclusion, Keloid scars are a very serious type of scar as they can quickly grow out of control. If you have a Keloid, it is in your best interest to find a treatment as soon as possible. While some Keloids may require surgery, most can be treated using a non-prescription topical scar treatment.