When the skin is broken – for example, by a cut, bite, scratch, burn, acne or piercing – the body produces more of a protein called collagen. As part of the natural healing process, collagen gathers around the damaged skin, building up to help the wound seal over. The resulting scar usually fades over time, becoming smoother and less noticeable. Some scars don’t stop growing, invading healthy skin and becoming bigger than the original wound. These are known as keloid scars, which affect around 10-15% of all wounds. Keloid scars are more common on the upper chest, shoulders, head (especially the earlobes) and neck, but they can happen anywhere.
• Raised above surrounding skin
• Hard and rubbery
• Red or purple at first, before becoming brown or pale
• Long lasting, and sometimes don’t form until months or years after the initial injury
They’re usually painless, but some can cause:
• A burning feeling
• Limited movement if located on a joint
Some people feel embarrassed or upset if they think the scar is disfiguring them.
Experts don’t fully understand why keloid scarring happens. They are not contagious or cancerous.
Keloid scars can sometimes develop after minor skin damage, such as burns, acne scars and even chicken pox, but they can sometimes happen spontaneously with no history of skin trauma. If you’ve had a keloid scar before, you’re more likely to get another.
Treatment for keloid scars
We can treat keloid scarring at our clinic in Guiseley, by using steroid injections to break down the build up of collagen.
|Online Consultation – if you would like to book straight in||Click Here|