If signs of infection begin, such as redness, increasing pain, swelling, and fever, contact your doctor immediately. The doctor may restitch the wound or allow the wound to close by itself naturally to lessen the chances of infection. However, scarring may be excessive when sutures are not removed promptly or left in place for a prolonged period of time. This scarring extends beyond the original wound and tends to be darker than the normal skin. Keloids are common in wounds over the ears, waist, arms, elbows, shoulders, and especially the chest.
Keloids occur when the body overreacts when forming a scar.
They are common in African Americans and in anyone with a history of producing keloids. People with a tendency to form keloids should be closely followed by the doctor. Injection of anti-inflammatory agents may decrease keloid formation. Also, large keloids can be removed, and a graft can be used to close the wound. These occur mostly around joints.