Keloids (keloids) are benign skin tumors caused by excessive proliferation of connective tissue within the skin, the exact cause of which is not fully understood. Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of keloids. Patients tend to be keloid, some have a family history of keloid scarring, often secondary to skin injury. Keloid scarring can occur in susceptible individuals following any degree of skin trauma, including surgery, piercings, acne, tattoos, insect bites, burns, injections, or any other inflammatory process.
Keloid scars can occur anywhere on the body, preferably on the forehead, but also on the neck, shoulders, ears, and lower extremities. The damage is firm and rubbery, with clear borders, irregularly shaped, crabfoot or myxoid, pink, skin-colored or pigmented, above the skin surface and extending beyond the original trauma site. Some patients may have itching, pain, tenderness or burning sensation, secondary to large keloids formed by burns, scalds, etc. or severe keloids in joint areas, which may affect limb movement.
Treatment options for keloids are limited and there are individual differences in treatment outcomes; prevention is primary. Predisposed individuals should avoid trauma and unnecessary surgical operations, minimize wound tension in the event of trauma or when surgery is necessary, and take measures to prevent scar tissue proliferation as early as possible after surgery. For formed keloids, available treatments include topical glucocorticoid ointment or hard cream, intradermal glucocorticoid injection, cryotherapy, laser and photochemotherapy, superficial X-ray irradiation, ion beam irradiation, etc. If necessary, scar excision is feasible, and postoperative combination of medications to prevent scar proliferation.