Keloid Injection Treatment
Keloids form when the connective tissue cells in the skin that form fibers to bridge the gaps in wounded skin continue to replicate, resulting in a raised type of scar that forms on top of the skin's surface. The American Academy of Dermatology indicates that keloids often prove very difficult to banish, as they have a propensity to reform. Injections have become an effective treatment to reduce the size and appearance of keloids.
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Keloid Injections
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Dermatologists administer intralesional injections to help reduce keloids, notes the AAD, making skin feel smoother and flatter. Injections may consist of corticosteroids or interferon.
Protocol
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A series of injections is required to treat keloids. The AAD indicates that these may be given every three weeks, although some patients with keloids may receive them every two weeks or up to six weeks apart.
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Improvement Time
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The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology indicates that keloids typically become less noticeable after 3 to 6 months and numerous injections. But if there's little or no improvement noted after the fourth injection, the AAD recommends using other methods of treatment.
Surgery
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Surgery may be recommended for a keloid that doesn't respond to injection treatment. However, the AAD says that surgery alone doesn't prove effective, as between 45 and 100 percent of keloids return. Injection treatments are often used in conjunction with surgical removal to prevent the scar from reoccuring.
Other Treatments
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Other keloid treatments include laser or light therapy and cryotherapy, in which the keloid is "frozen" off. The AAD indicates that drugstore silicone gels, creams and sheeting remain the treatment of choice for those who wish to avoid medical procedures. However, application of silicone products yields modest results.
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