How to help keloid scars?

If you’re dealing with keloid scars, I feel your pain. They can be unsightly, sore and highly noticeable. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to help reduce the appearance and discomfort of these pesky scars.

The first thing we need to do is understand what keloid scars are, so that we can better treat them.

What Are Keloid Scars?

Keloids are raised areas of scar tissue that form at the site of an injury or incision. Unlike normal scarring which tends to get less visible over time as it heals, keloids continue to grow beyond the boundaries of the initial wound and often become thickened and lumpy in texture.

But don’t worry! It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to treating them!

There are a range of treatments available for those hoping to reduce their appearance – some more effective than others.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

One option if you’ve just noticed a potential keloid scar appearing could be trying out some over-the-counter remedies before stepping up your treatment game.

Silicone Gel Sheeting

Silicone gel sheets work by applying continuous pressure on the affected area which helps prevent excessive collagen production (which is what causes keloids!).

They might look a bit like 3D tattoos but believe me, they’re worth it!

Wearing one for at least 12 hours per day will help flatten any stubborn bumps on your skin before you know it.(Note: You should always consult with your doctor before starting anything new).

Sterile Saline Solutions

This little miracle works wonders in promoting healthy skin renewal while keeping out harmful bacteria from forming on any wounds (or pre-existing keloids) containing such solutions (please remember never put dangerous substances into an open wound without consulting medical professionals!).

Simply soak a bandage or cotton ball with saline solution and cover your keloid scar area for around fifteen minutes, up to twice daily.

Medical Treatments

If OTC treatments are not cutting it for you, then further medical intervention could be required. Here is a list of things you need to know from dermatologists when pursuing these types of treatments:

Laser Treatment

In this procedure, high-powered lasers produce beams focused on the affected areas leaving little epidermal damage (this means less chances of scarring).

This form of treatment takes 5-10 minute intervals per session and requires an average 4-6 sessions before noticeable results will appear!

Cryotherapy

Frozen carbon dioxide gas is sprayed onto affected skin areas in this treatment known as “cryotherapy”. This causes blistering around/on top-of-keloids while weakening underlying keloid tissues so they can hopefully become absorbed by one’s body’s immune system easier . This method can cause some pain but doctors typically prescribe pain medicine prior to treatment to help patients cope during recovery.

The methods above aren’t cheap/or insurance-covered though depending upon severity, surgery might be the only choice left (note: please consult with your doctor regarding all treatments covered under your policy).

Surgery

Yes – I’m afraid there comes a time where surgery needs to be considered. After trying other treatments without any success according to medical practitioners that deal specifically with scars e.g plastic surgeons).

So what happens? Under anesthesia (insert specific type here) , an incision into-the-keloid-tissue itself(!) removes excess tissue so healthy alternatives will grow back over time resulting in-hopefully-a flatter/smoother skin appearance! Following aftercare instructions closely(clearly )is always necessary after such a procedure.

Surgery may cost more than non-surgical ways mentioned previously because it typically involves specialized expertise/ resources such as anaesthesia. Additionally,the amount of anesthesia required and the depth of the incision depend on various factors such as keloid mass, size, location.

Pressure Earrings

Let’s kick this section off by saying: There is no magic solution when it comes to keloidal scars. That being said though – pressure earrings work for a lot of people!

Silver or copper are common materials in pressure earrings which help prohibit skin cell growth leading to softer smoother surfaces allowing room for new ones (you know those things that aren’t horrible scars)to form underneath!

Prevention and Lifestyle Changes

Since prevention is always better than any type of cure, there are some advice around lifestyles you can follow:

Avoid Tattoos in Keloid-Prone Areas

Permanent(we repeat) permanent tattoos should be avoided over keloid-prone parts like chest or shoulder areas where scarring is most likely according to most experts.

But hey, why not get creative with temporary tattoos!?

Temporary tats also offer some versatility — I mean who only wants one tattoo design forever anyway? A little variety spices up life wink

Avoid Piercings Too!

Many folks enjoy wearing jewelry; however piercings generally promote inflammation (which gives conducive environments for scar producing cells).

That being said though: ♪just wear clip-on♫

Clip-on fashion can protect ears without creating problematic physical wounds that result in more scars/flaring outcomes from forming altogether (yes I’m seriously suggesting clip-ons!). Our grandmas were all onto something…

Exercise Caution Around C-section Incisions After Birth

C-sections (Caesarean sections) carry risks along side the joys of giving birth/working out after pregnancy (such as stretching /opening tendons and muscles) — increases chances of unintentional openings(if post-op care instructions are neglected). So make sure you listen closely to medical expert’s recommendations–anxiety isn’t worth alternative self-diagnosis/following old-wives-tales.

Stay Healthy

One way to avoid keloid scars is by keeping healthy general skin practices such as good hygiene habits and consistent sunscreen application – but despite the best efforts, accidents can still happen! So it’s always good to keep some of these potential treatments at your disposal.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it folks! Keloids are quite the pesky buggers when they want to be!

But with a range of medical and natural treatment options alongside prevention measures – we hope this guide has given you plenty of options for managing (or even preventing) them in future.

Stay safe out there (and please remember no open wounds + harmful substances)!

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice/considerations or treatments, especially where conditions may adversely affect health outside scope skills of anyone self-diagnosing without proper counsel/expert opinions; then caution should exercise as appropriateness before any therapies/natural remedies.