Keloid

Keloid is an overgrowth of scar tissue that forms as the skin heals after an injury, incision, burn, acne or piercing. It typically extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound and appears raised, firm, and sometimes darker or red compared with surrounding skin; common risk factors include a family history, darker skin tones, younger age, and certain body sites such as the chest, shoulders and earlobes.

Treatment focuses on reducing size, symptoms and recurrence and may include intralesional corticosteroid injections, silicone sheets or gels, pressure therapy, cryotherapy, laser treatment, or surgical excision combined with adjunctive measures such as steroid injections or radiotherapy in select cases. Prevention after planned surgery emphasizes careful wound closure and early scar care, and people with a history of keloids should discuss risk and management strategies with their clinician before procedures.