Comment from: the Maverick, 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: August 25
I got my ears pierced when I was 11 years old, back in 1986. About six months later, I developed a keloid on both ears. I had them removed five times through various techniques. Ten years ago, I had them successfully removed with a flap method, two days of radiation treatments, and a total of six series of steroid injections that were really painful. Although, my right earlobe is very small because of all the surgeries, it looks remarkable compared to how it was. I wear clip-on earrings now, which have come a long way compared to years ago. There is help and treatment out there, you just have to be persistent.
Comment from: Tiffany4816, 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: August 04
In 4th grade I got chicken pox from a girl at school and one of the pox in my chest I could not resist to scratch. The end result was a quarter sized keloid in the middle of my chest right above my breast. After months of injections it was flattened but due to scarring you can tell is there. I had my ears pierce when I was in 7th grade. My mom waited so long because my older sister had keloids on both of her ears due to ear piercing. While I was getting treatment for the one in my chest, I began to develop a keloid on my left ear about the size of a peanut. It did not grow at much. The injections to the keloid in my chest were so painful. I refused injections to the keloid on my left ear. I have not worn earrings for over 10years. Of course the hole on my right ear has closed. It is long over due but I want to wear earrings again, but I have been afraid it will grow back bigger as it did with my sister and a lot of others.
I have several keloids on my body: one on my chest, formed from a pimple I did not squeeze; three on my left arm, from a BCG vaccine I took several years ago. Of these 3, one has disappeared completely from treatment, one has stopped growing, and one has grown to about 5cm. I also have one on my right thigh, from a small bruise I sustained on the beach. I had the steroid treatment beginning in 2003, with some results, as observed above. The large keloid on my left arm, as well as the ones on my chest and thigh, have started to grow again. I am planning to have some more treatment.
My doctor had cautioned me that if I were to have them surgically removed they are likely to grow back bigger. The thing with the steroid treatment is that it has some unwanted effects on the body and my doctor recommended maximum 5 shots, between well-spaced intervals.
Published: July 02
I have a couple keloids, 1 small one on my left shoulder, another good sized one on my right arm, another new one on the inside of my right ankle from a recent surgery, and my most hated is the large one on my left earlobe. It is very large and unsightly and attracts a lot of attention. The small one on my shoulder stopped growing on its own. I have never had treatment for this one. The one on my right arm I had the steroid injections and it stopped growing. I have not tried anything yet for the one on my ankle because I'm kind of waiting to see what it's going to do. The large one on my earlobe is the one that I have done everything possible for. I had an ear piercing when I was in 5th grade and it took a few years to become visible. I have had it surgically removed about 7 or 8 different times along with the steroid injections and also the radiation treatment. None of which have worked. It continues to grow and I am frustrated as to what I should do next.... any suggestions?
Comment from: Pramod S, 25-34 Male (Caregiver)Published: September 02
Comment from: Nina, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: September 02
I have had a keloid on my breasts for nearly 15 years and it has been growing slowly. I have tried injections, laser and silicon gel and nothing worked. What worries me is that it has not stopped growing and sometimes it itches and burns. I have been to many doctors, but no one seems to be sure of the results. Some doctors have said that there is no treatment and some have said laser and steroid injection may work.
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I got my ears pierced when I was 11 years old, back in 1986. About six months later, I developed a keloid on both ears. I had them removed five times through various techniques. Ten years ago, I had them successfully removed with a flap method, two days of radiation treatments, and a total of six series of steroid injections that were really painful. Although, my right earlobe is very small because of all the surgeries, it looks remarkable compared to how it was. I wear clip-on earrings now, which have come a long way compared to years ago. There is help and treatment out there, you just have to be persistent.
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