Scars are the bodies normal mechanism of closing an open wound caused from trauma, accident or surgery. The body in a scar lays down new collagen which acts as small cables to bring the wound together. Scars do not look like normal skin because they lack hair follicles and sweat glands. Hypertrophic scars are scars that are raised. Keloids are scars that are raised and extend beyond the borders of a normal scar.
Keloids have a tendency to occur more frequently in dark skin people.
Flat scars can be hard to improve upon. Raised scars and keloids have been shown to improve when sheets of silastic gel are placed on them. When the above measure do not help then your dermatologist may be able to treat your keloid more aggressively. Scars, hypertrophic scars and keloids that are raised can be injected with steroids. Keloids can be cut off or out.