Introduction
Keloids are the third most common form of scarring after acne and burns. The scars typically develop on an area of skin that is repeatedly injured, with the new tissue growing out faster than the old tissue can heal. They can develop anywhere in your body. A complex chain of events causes keloids. Much research has been conducted to understand the individual parts of this system and find ways to stop keloids from forming.
What are keloids?
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Keloids are a benign and non-cancerous overgrowth of scar tissue that develops due to an injury to the skin. They are also known as warts, tubercles, and skin horns. This article will go through multiple keloid treatment methods, including surgical excision and laser therapy. Keloids are a result of a wound healing abnormally. They form as rapidly growing, raised, and irregularly shaped nodules on the skin. Because they are caused by trauma to the skin, you’ll often find keloids on areas where an injury or surgery damaged the skin.
Can You Stop Keloids From Growing?
Is there anything you can do to stop a keloid from growing? The answer is yes. If you act early enough and aggressively enough, you can prevent a keloid from increasing. If you have them, don’t scratch or pick at them. When a scab starts to form over the wound, leave it alone. There are other ways that you can try to prevent them from forming.
What Are The Ways To Get Rid of Keloids?
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There are several ways to get rid of keloids. Some work better than others, depending on the size of the keloid, how old it is, and your willingness to have surgery. Here are remedies for keloids.
Home remedies
Make sure you know the cause of the keloid before trying to treat it. It would be best if you went through some simple methods of home remedies for keloids.
Baking Soda
Many people use baking soda to fight the infection in their keloids. It is mixed with water, then poured over the area of skin that has keloids on it. The water soaks into the skin and mixes with the baking soda, thus neutralizing any bacteria in your skin. Most people who have used this method have found that it works pretty well.
Silicone sheeting
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Silicone sheeting is an effective way to stop keloids from growing. The silicone pushes on the skin and flattens the keloid, making it smaller. The best thing about this remedy is that you can do it yourself, easily and quickly. It’s not advisable for anyone to slather silicone on every available piece of their skin, but this treatment works well as long as you use it appropriately. You should avoid placing it over any sensitive areas like your eyes or severely inflamed keloids to prevent irritation.
Hydrogen peroxide solution
You can use hydrogen peroxide to get rid of a keloid if you have one still forming or has recently developed. Use a cotton swab to put the hydrogen peroxide on the keloid and then cover it with a bandage. Do this consistently for about two to three weeks. You will notice that the keloid starts to get smaller and smaller as time goes on.
Skin cream or lotion
Using skin cream containing salicylic acid will help eliminate new and old keloids. It is a good choice for anyone with keloids that are maturing rather than new ones. Make sure you use this cream carefully and only on the area that you want the keloid to shrink. Please do not use it anywhere else on your body because it’s too intense for some regions. Instead, apply it only to where you have the keloid. The cream is usually applied twice a day for about fifteen minutes, though you can also use it once in the morning or once in the evening when it’s cooler out.
Medications
If your keloid is still tiny, you may be able to stop it from growing by applying medications to the area and removing scabs as needed. The FDA has approved several drugs for the treatment of keloids.
Imiquimod cream
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Imiquimod cream is an FDA-approved cream that you can use to treat pre-existing keloids. After surgically cutting out the keloids, you should apply the cream three times a week for twelve weeks. This cream works by using chemicals that stimulate your immune system, prompting it to start destroying the keloid.
Tretinoin cream
The FDA approved Tretinoin cream, also known as Retin-A, to treat keloids. It’s a vitamin A derivative that has been shown to shrink pre-existing and new keloids. It can be applied up to three times a day for twelve weeks. Many people report that their keloid shrinks or goes away completely when using this cream.
Cryotherapy
Using cryotherapy can help prevent keloids from forming and shrink existing ones. It works by creating a vacuum on the skin and sending a cold air stream down on it. It causes the skin to become numb, preventing it from feeling pain and making you less likely to pick at or scratch the keloid. Many people who have used this method have reported reducing their keloids significantly by more than 50%.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a slightly more expensive method of treatment for keloids. It is a way of using high-energy x-rays or ultrasound to kill some of the abnormal tissue in your keloid. It is a good treatment for people who have a very large keloid, as you can use it to shrink existing ones and stop new ones from forming.
Conclusion
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Keloids are a reasonably common occurrence, especially among African-American and Asian populations. If you want to prevent keloids from growing, you should follow the tips provided in this article. Keep in mind that many people who have keloids will develop more as time goes on, so it’s best to stay proactive with your treatments. Therefore, even if you have only a few keloids now, it’s good to start treating them as soon as possible. Doing so can prevent them from getting worse and cause a few inconveniences in the future. Learn more about this condition and the treatment options.
