What's really What's really going on with my going on with my

keloid scar?keloid scar?

What is a keloid?What is a keloid?

• A type of scar that is “formed from excessive scartissue at the site of prior skin injury”, accordingto the Keloid Research Foundation

• Characterized by being raised above the skin, anddifference in color

• The cause and cure of keloids, are not very wellknown

Are keloids detrimental Are keloids detrimental to my health?to my health?

The majority of the concerns with keloid scarsare cosmetic, and in most situations, they are

not physically harmful to the individual's health.Scars are not contaigous or cancerous, which

is a huge relief for some people. If you havekeloid that can be easily concealed, it may beeasier to leave the scar alone, than to try and

remove it through treatment (unless notedotherwise by a physician).

Who gets keloids?Who gets keloids?

Just as anyone can get a regular scar,anyone can get a keloid. However,

studies have shown that certain groupsare more likely to keloid than others.

People with highly pigmented skin havehigher chances of acquiring keloids,

which is why they are often associatedwith Black skin. On average, these scarsdevelop in both men and women in their

early 20s.

Why do some people get Why do some people get keloids, while others scar keloids, while others scar

normally?normally?

One component of keloid formation isherreditary. Meaning, if you have family

members that keloid easily, then chancesare that you will also keloid easily. Thistype of scar formation is not completely

genetic, but the herreditary components doincrese the chance of getting a keloid scar.

Is there hope for my Is there hope for my keloid scar?keloid scar?

There are many different options when it comesto treating keloid scars, including ointments,injections, and every surgical procedures. In

some cases, the scar will subside over time andnot need any treatment. Because there is still

much to be learned about keloids andscarring,answering this type of question can betricky. Each type of treatment has its pros andcons so choosing the right option for yourself,

boils down to personal situation and preferance.