Get Rid of Keloids

Keloids are scars that continue to grow even after the skin has healed. They rise above the rest of the skin and they usually have a smooth top, are tough to the touch and have a pink or purple color. Keloids are irregularly shaped and tend to enlarge progressively. Learn what you can do to minimize their appearance.

Steps

Using Natural Scar Treatments

  1. Try Aloe Vera gel. Using aloe can help if your scar is relatively fresh, but it may not be as effective on scars that are over a year old. Give it a try to see if the aloe helps reduce the appearance of the scar. Buy a bottle of Aloe Vera gel or use fresh aloe. Apply at least twice a day.
  2. Use lemon juice. This natural scar treatment lightens the top layer of skin cells, causing the scar to look less noticeable. Rub a few drops of fresh lemon juice over the scar twice a day for best results.
  3. Use onion extract. This natural substance is actually used in some over-the-counter scar treatments. It has been known to reduce scar formation, therefore it's especially helpful for treating keloids, which tend to keep growing long after the skin has healed.[1] You can make your own onion extract by taking the following steps:
    • Dice a white onion.
    • Place the onion bits in a cheesecloth, and tie a knot on the cloth.
    • Place the cheesecloth in a bowl. Use a second bowl to press the onion parts so that the juice is extracted through the cheesecloth.
    • Use a cotton ball to apply the onion juice to your keloids a few times a day.
  4. Try vitamin E. This natural substance is said to help reduce the appearance of scars by fostering healthy skin growth. Buy a cream containing vitamin E, or purchase vitamin E capsules that contain an oil you can rub over the keloids.

Getting Medical Treatment

  1. Get over-the-counter scar removal ointment. Drugstores sell ointments, creams and gels that are formulated to reduce the appearance of scars over time. These treatments often include steroids that help reduce itching, which can be a problem for people with keloid scars.[2]
    • It may take several months for the treatment to work. Apply the ointment, cream or gel as directed on the bottle for the recommended period of time.
    • Look for a product that contains onion skin extract, since studies have shown that it reduces the growth of scars.
  2. Try cortisone injections. These steroid injections may help reduce scars that are raised above the surface of the skin. They are usually given once a month until the maximum benefit is obtained. After a certain period of time the keloids should look flatter.[2]
    • While steroid injections may help flatten keloids, they don't help the scars change back to your normal skin color.
    • Steroid injections cannot permanently remove keloids, so if your goal is to get rid of them entirely, you may want to try a different method.
  3. Get laser treatments. The pulsed-dye laser can be effective at flattening keloids and making them look less red. Treatment is safe and not very painful, but several treatment sessions may be needed. These may be expensive, since such treatments are not generally covered by insurance plans.
  4. Talk to your doctor about silicone sheets. This involves wearing a sheet of silicone gel on the affected area for several hours a day for weeks or months to reduce the appearance of keloids. Some doctors claim similar success with compression dressings made from materials other than silicone.
  5. Consider surgical removal. If you have keloids that actually impair movement, see a doctor about having them surgically removed. Plastic surgery is also available to make the skin look smoother and more uniform in color.[2]
    • Surgical treatment of scars can be expensive, but it may be the most effective way to significantly reduce their appearance.
    • Surgery can be risky, because in some cases it can trigger the formation of a similar or even larger keloid. Some surgeons achieve success by injecting steroids or applying pressure dressings to the wound site after cutting away the keloid. Radiation after surgical excision has also been used.

Tips

  • Protect keloids from the sun with sunscreen. Sun exposure can cause the scars to discolor further.
  • Always wear sunscreen or clothing over a keloid. Scars burn easily.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20127038
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.webmd.com/beauty/skin/cosmetic-procedures-scars?page=1
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