Keloids

The skin is the body’s first form of defence and is quite hardy and good at self-repair. But there are instances when the fibrous tissue that forms to repair a wound doesn’t do its job properly and grows excessively, forming a smooth, raised, hard tissue called keloid.

Keloids can affect almost any part of the body and are larger than the original wound. Though they don’t harm the body, they do look quite unsightly and are of cosmetic concern to the bearer. And they don’t develop overnight either, but take weeks and months to develop fully. About 10% of people end up developing keloids upon wound healing.

While keloids may feel itchy and scratchy, especially during damp weather, they don’t really harm your health. The person may experience discomfort or tenderness and the tight scar tissue may hamper smooth movement. And if it is on an exposed part of the skin, it will look discolored and ugly, taking away confidence of the person living in a world of perfect-looking people.

Treatment of keloids can be tricky as surgical scar removal can result in even larger keloids.

Doctors usually prefer non-invasive forms of treatment such as:

• Steroid injections to reduce inflammation 
• Moisturizing oils to soften up the area
• Freezing the undesirable tissue or cryotherapy
• Carbon dioxide laser treatment to reduce the scar tissue
• Radiotherapy to shrink scar tissue
• Silicone compression sheets or gel
• Pressure dressings or compression garments especially in larger areas.

Keloid treatment in Bangalore is a fairly new concept, but Dr. Divya Sharma is highly experienced in this field and one of the best doctors to go to for. The modality depends upon the size and site of keloid.