Some medical procedures, such as creams and injections, may help lessen the visibility of keloid scars. Home cures might be helpful as well.
On the skin, keloids are elevated collections of scar tissue. After a wound, puncture, burn, or blemish has healed, they often develop and expand.
What Is A Keloid?
An unique kind of scar tissue is a keloid. It manifests as a fleshy, elevated lump on the skin that typically grows larger than the initial trauma or injury that caused the keloid to begin. The keloid scar may be significantly darker or the same color as your skin. Some keloids may have a reddish or pinkish hue.
Keloids do not contain any fluids, such as blood or pus, and are just an overgrowth of the fibrous tissue. With the exception of occasional discomfort and irritation, they are often innocuous. Joint keloids can make it difficult to move. Typically, they don’t cause cancer or other malignancies.
By physically inspecting the stiff, rubbery growth over your scar, your dermatologist can determine whether it is a keloid or not. To rule out any issues, your doctor could also do a microscopic examination or biopsy.
Symptoms
One to three months or even a year after the injury, keloid scars may start to appear. The following are the traits of a keloid scar:
- Painful, sensitive, and itchy
- a flat scar that is raised
- hyperpigmented or flesh-colored lesion
- It may be lumpy, rubbery, squishy, or rigid.
- It can get darker as it develops
Any injury that results in scarring. Overgrowth and keloid scars, however, might result from certain circumstances. Discover the causes of keloid scars by reading on.
Causes
There are three stages to wound healing: inflammatory, fibroblastic, and maturation. When the fibroblastic phase lasts longer and untreated, keloid scars form. Keloid scars are created when the connective tissues overreact, overproduce collagen, and cytokines.
- Although keloids can form anywhere on your body, they are more frequent in places like the chest, shoulders, neck, and the area around the pubis.
- You may be more prone to acquiring keloid scars if you have hormonal imbalances during puberty, pregnancy, or illnesses like hyperthyroidism.
- Keloids are more common in Caucasians than in those of African, Latin American, or Asian ethnicity.
- Both men and women can get keloids, although they seem to affect young individuals between the ages of 10 and 30 more frequently.
- You can also have a hereditary susceptibility to developing keloids. So, there is a good probability that you might get keloids if someone in your family is prone to them.
- If you have keloids, getting a tattoo or getting your body pierced may also do it.
- One of the most frequent reasons for keloid development on the earlobe is ear piercing.
- Keloids can develop as a result of any past injury to the skin, including wounds, burns, insect bites, surgery, or even popping pimples.
Home Remedies
Oils To Treat Keloids
There may be several oil mixtures that might help fade keloid scars. In particular, fish oil and mineral oil aid in the management of keloids. Some essential oils include antioxidants and skin-regenerating qualities that help the carrier oil treat the keloids.Onion Juice
A few years ago, researchers evaluated how well onions reduced keloid and hypertrophic scars. The study discovered that onion juice or extract might quickly enhance the scars’ appearance. One white onion, a cheesecloth, and cotton are required.
Squeeze the onion juice out of the chopped onion using a cheesecloth. Use cotton to apply this on the keloid scar. It doesn’t need to be rinsed off.
Petroleum Jelly
Maintaining constant hydration and moisturization of the region can help minimize the appearance of keloid scars. Being an occlusive substance, petroleum jelly retains moisture and aids in the healing of scars. However, this impact is not supported by scientific data. After cleaning the area, use petroleum jelly and massage it.Aloe Vera Gel
The antiseptic and antibacterial qualities of aloe vera gel aid in the healing of keloids. Additionally, it lessens pain and inflammation and has wound-healing capabilities.
Extract the gel by cutting the leaf open. Extract the gel by cutting the leaf open. Before washing it off, let it sit for around 30 minutes. It may also be left on all night.
Honey For Keloids
Honey improves blood circulation, stops dead cells from building up in the wound, and hastens the healing process. Particularly helpful at reducing keloids is tutalang honey.
Directly apply fresh honey on your wounds. Gently massage it in and let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes. Use water to rinse.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Antioxidants, vitamin C, and phytochemical substances found in grapefruit seed extract may help with skin restoration and lessen the likelihood of scarring. This could aid in keloids shrinking in size. You’ll need 1 teaspoon of water and 2–3 drops of grapefruit seed extract.
Grapefruit seed extract should be diluted in water. Apply this combination to the keloid by dipping a Q-tip into it. As long as you can, keep it on.
Garlic
Garlic may hasten wound recovery and lessen the likelihood of scarring. As a result, using garlic topically could also stop keloids.
Garlic cloves should be mashed and applied on the scars. Later, use warm water to wash the area.
Sandalwood And Rose Water
Rose water is a skin toner and has anti-inflammatory effects, while sandalwood is well renowned for its ability to regenerate skin. These traits could make keloids easier to handle. You’ll need sandalwood powder and rose water, around 1-2 tablespoons each.
Before going to bed, apply a thick mixture of rosewater and sandalwood to the afflicted region. Keep it running all night. The next morning, use warm water to wash it off.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is an abrasive substance that might aid in exfoliating and maintaining clean skin. Additionally, it lessens any swelling and calms inflamed skin. Scientific proof of its efficacy in treating keloids is lacking, nevertheless. Three tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide, one teaspoon of baking soda, and a cotton ball are required.
To create a smooth paste, combine hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Using a cotton ball, apply this paste to the troublesome region, and let it sit there for 20 minutes. Clean it with water.
Lemon Juice
Vitamin C may aid in the normal healing of wounds and the avoidance of keloid scars. Lemons are high in vitamin C and might aid to some extent in keloids reduction. According to anecdotal data, you will start to see changes in the elasticity, texture, and color of your skin a few weeks after use.
Lemon juice should be applied directly to the afflicted region, and left on for 30 minutes. Use warm water to clean the area.
MIMI (Multi ion mask insert)
- Can be worn with any facemask and provides additional heavy-duty protection.
- Adult & Youth Sizes Available
Aspirin
Aspirin used topically is effective in treating keloids. In this instance, its anti-inflammatory and exfoliating qualities are advantageous. However, it must be used with a doctor’s approval. You’ll need water and three to four aspirin pills.
Crushed aspirin pills combined with water should form a thick, homogeneous paste. Apply this paste after cleaning the scars, then let it dry. After washing it off, hydrate your skin.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Chemical exfoliants and astringents include apple cider. It could aid in reducing the scar’s size and redness. You’ll need water and apple cider vinegar.
ACV should be diluted with water in an equal ratio. To treat the keloid, apply the mixture and let it on for 30 minutes. Clean it with water.
Preventing keloids
There are methods you may do to stop keloids from developing. If you already have keloids, there are steps you may do to stop further growth.Avoid skin picking and pimple popping
There are methods you may do to stop keloids from developing. If you already have keloids, there are steps you may do to stop further growth.Avoid (more) tattoos or piercings
Keloids can frequently result from tattoos and piercings. They might be viewed as elective surgery in certain ways. If you are prone to keloids, carefully consider if you want keloids before getting tattoos or body piercings.Avoid cosmetic surgery
Even while some surgery is important, try to stay away from operations like cosmetic surgery. Keloids can develop as a result of skin surgery.
If you have experienced surgery-related keloids or suspect that you could, you might want to think again about undergoing an elective procedure. Elective procedures include those that aren’t necessary for improving your health or saving your life.
Bottom Line
On the skin, keloids are thick, elevated scars that have the potential to enlarge over time. Even though keloids are safe, you could decide to remove them for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes. Apple cider vinegar, grapefruit seed extract, honey, aloe vera gel, garlic, baking soda, and lemon are a few easy and effective home treatments for keloid scars. To reduce the danger of negative responses, always do a patch test on your skin before using your selected therapies on the keloid.
As soon as a wound begins to heal, take care of it by keeping it hydrated and equally compressed to avoid the development of keloids. Due to the fact that keloids might be persistent and take some time to go away or diminish in appearance, it is important to adhere to the keloids cures religiously and consistently.
