Keloid
Revising Medical Author: Alan Rockoff, MD
Revising Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
What is a keloid?
Keloids can be considered to be "scars that don't know when to stop." A
keloid, sometimes referred to as a keloid scar, is a tough heaped-up scar that
rises quite abruptly above the rest of the skin. It usually has a smooth top and a pink
or purple color. Keloids are irregularly shaped and tend to enlarge progressively. Unlike scars, keloids do not subside over time.
What is the difference between a keloid and a
hypertrophic scar?
After the skin is injured, the healing process usually leaves a flat scar.
Sometimes the scar is hypertrophic, or thickened, but confined to the margin of
the wound. Hypertrophic scars tend to be redder and may subside by themselves (a process which can
take one year or more). Treatment such as injections of cortisone (steroids) can
speed this process.
Keloids, by contrast, may start some time after the injury and extend beyond
the wound site. This tendency to migrate into surrounding areas that weren't
injured to begin with distinguishes keloids from hypertrophic scars. Keloids
typically appear following surgery or injury, but they can also appear
spontaneously or as a result of some slight inflammation, such as an acne pimple
on the chest (even one that wasn't scratched or otherwise irritated). Other minor injuries that can
trigger keloids are burns and
piercings.
What are the signs and symptoms of keloids?
Keloids are raised and look shiny and dome-shaped, ranging in color from pink
to red. Some keloids become quite large and unsightly. Aside from causing
potential cosmetic problems, these exuberant scars tend to be
itchy, tender, or
even painful to the touch.
Next: What is the cause of keloids? »
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