What Are the Treatments for Keloid Scars?
A keloid scar is a scar that feels tough and is raised above the surface of the skin. The top of the scar is smooth and may look pink, red or purple in color. They are not thin, straight scars, but rather are shaped irregularly and usually keep growing as time goes on. They commonly occur on the back, shoulders, chest, earlobes and rarely appear on the face. The cause of keloid scars is not known. They can occur due to skin trauma or for no apparent reason at all.
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Cortisone Injections
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Cortisone treats keloid scars by softening and flattening the scar itself. Cortisone injections are typically given once a month until the keloid scar shrinks. The injections may cause the keloid to become a deeper red color that can be treated via laser treatment. The scar does not completely disappear; rather, the keloid scar treatment leaves a spot on the skin that looks and feels different than the skin surrounding it.
Radiation
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Radiation can be used alone or in conjunction with a surgical removal of the keloid scar. Radiation treatment by itself on a keloid scar has been shown to be unsuccessful, with a 100 percent recurrence rate according to USPharmacist.com. Surgical removal of a keloid scar followed by radiation treatment has a higher rate of success. Surgery and radiation are used as a treatment for keloid scars that have not responded to other less invasive treatments.
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Laser
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Different laser treatments are used for keloid scars depending on the keloid. The pulsed-dye laser flattens keloids and reduces redness of the scar. The argon laser is most effective on keloid scars that have not been on the skin for long. The carbon dioxide laser treatment shrinks large keloid scars in order to treat the keloid with other treatments. It will take several laser treatments to be effective. There is minimal pain associated with this procedure.
Cryotherapy
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Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the keloid scar. It flattens the keloid, but the skin color turns darker than the surrounding skin. The liquid nitrogen is applied for 10-30 seconds three times, repeated every 20-30 days so as to flatten the scar. Cryotherapy treatment for keloid scars may cause pain during treatment, but it is only temporary.
Silicone Gel Sheets
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A sheet of silicone gel is applied to the keloid scar and left on for several hours a day. This treatment is done over weeks or months until the keloid scar shrinks and flattens.
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