Ear piercing and studs are becoming increasingly common. Due to physical factors, post-operative infections or improper care, the ear scar may overgrow after piercing and even form a keloid (mainly hard, smooth, hemispherical nodules around the piercing), which in turn destroys the appearance of the ear.
Since keloid scars are related to one’s own constitution and may re-grow after surgical removal, previous treatment has been relatively conservative. Although local corticosteroid injections can prevent scar growth or soften the scar, they have limited effect on the regression of existing scars.
Currently, the recurrence rate of keloid scars has been greatly reduced by using a combination of treatments.
Firstly, surgical excision of the scar and, if necessary, intra-scar excision, with attention to suturing techniques to achieve small stitches, fine threads, tension-free sutures, and to reduce foreign body irritation from the threads.
Secondly, postoperative rule local injection of corticosteroids to prevent recurrence.
Finally, the author’s experience is that the use of compression therapy after surgical excision is satisfactory, and the principles of compression are as follows: early – early tight – the pressure should not be too small long – time about six months
The peculiarities of the auricle make compression therapy very easy to achieve and patients are happy to adopt it. In clinical practice we mainly use compression earrings or earrings, which were originally prepared for those who do not have ear holes and want to wear earrings, and are used for local compression that can play a role in compression therapy and can be aesthetically pleasing, killing two birds with one stone. Of course the pressure and compression surface of the compression earrings may need to be adjusted slightly to avoid the pressure point being too small or the pressure being too large, leading to local necrosis. Another more convenient way is to apply pressure bilaterally with a permanent magnet king magnet piece, again with proper pressure.
For those recalcitrant cases, the trade-off is to do electron beam radiotherapy immediately after surgery.