What are KELOIDS? And how can you get rid of them?
Channel: Dr Kay Explains
Date: 14/07/2019

Keloid scarring is common in black skin, this video explains what causes them and realistic treatments to help get rid of them.

Check out my other videos:
Is Black Skin Different to Other skin tones? https://youtu.be/U3uuIXdSPE4
What's causing your edges to thin and fall out! https://youtu.be/o81MN0bJOV4
7 reasons why you have BODY ODOR https://youtu.be/-yyagLyCT8g

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Disclaimer: This video is not intended to provide any diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this Youtube channel is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this Youtube channel should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this video are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
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When a wound heals, it leaves a scar. A keloid scar is one that becomes thick, lumpy, raised and larger than the original wound. It is not uncommon for a scar to become slightly thick and raised. This is called a hypertrophic scar. 

The difference with keloids is that they can develop after very minor skin damage, such as an acne spot or after having a piercing, and spread beyond the original area of skin damage. Anyone can get a keloid scar, but they're more common in people with black skin.

*What do keloid scars look like?
Keloid scars are more common on the upper chest, shoulders, head and neck, but they can happen anywhere on the body.
They appear as an enlarged, raised scar with a red or purple colour initially, before darkening over the course of time. They do feel different than the surrounding skin and can feel hard and rubbery. Keloids usually don't show up immediately and can take up to 3 months or more after your skin is injured before they appear. Some continue to grow for years.


**What causes keloids?
The first thing to say is that Keloids are not contagious or cancerous.
Its not clear why it happens in some people but not others. Keloid scars form because the normal process of scarring, that we all have, goes into overdrive. Keloids happen when there is over production of collagen which is like the supporting structure or glue in your skin. After your skin is injured, your body tries to repair it by forming a scar and producing extra collagen, however this doesn't shut off and the scar tissue keeps forming and forming long after the wound heals. This extra scar tissue is what causes the raised area on your skin and the keloids.

*Who gets keloid scars?
Keloid scars can affect anyone, but they're more common in people with black skin and it's thought they may run in families. If you're also young, ie- between the ages of 10 and 30, you are more likely to get them.

*How are keloids diagnosed?
Your doctor can usually diagnose a keloid by looking at your skin. Sometimes if they're unsure, they may arrange a skin biopsy. This where a sample of skin tissue from the area is removed under local anaesthetic and looked at under a microscope, in order to rule out other types of skin growths.

* Can a keloid be removed?
Its easy to  think that the keloid scar can just simply be 'cut out' (surgically excised). This is hardly ever successful and in fact can result in an even bigger keloid scar coming back and filling up the space. The aim of treatment therefore is to flatten, soften, or shrink the keloid. Many doctors will use a combination of treatments for the best results. 
Treatments that may help flatten a keloid scar include:
-steroid injections
-applying steroid-containing tape- available only on prescription
-using silicone sheets or gel over the scar. 
- Laser therapy to help flatten the keloid. It also can fade the color
- Freezing the scar. This is called cryotherapy, and can be used to reduce the hardness and size of the keloid. It works best on small keloids.

*What can I do?
Prevention really is the best cure. Rather than having to deal with the headache and the cost of trying to fix keloids, its much better to take some steps to reduce the chances of getting them in the first place.
Make sure to avoid unnecessary cuts/ marks to the skin such as piercings, tattoos
and ideally any surgery unless essential. Also steer clear of unnecessary procedures such as cosmetic surgery, especially in those areas of the body where keloids are prone to develop such as around the neck or chest. 
If you suffer with acne,  make sure to have it treated at an early stage so the spots do not scar.