Keloid Treatment — Complete Guide to Removing Raised Scars

Keloids are thick, raised, often itchy or painful scars that grow beyond the original wound boundary. They can develop after any skin injury — ear piercing, surgery, acne, burns, or even minor cuts. Dr. Nagpal's clinic in Bathinda offers advanced keloid treatment to flatten, shrink, and effectively manage these troublesome scars.

What Causes Keloids?

Keloids form when the body produces excessive collagen during wound healing. Risk factors include:

• Dark skin: Keloids are 15–20x more common in darker skin types (including South Asian skin)
• Family history: Strong genetic component
• Age: Most common between 10–30 years
• Location: Chest, shoulders, upper back, earlobes are high-risk areas
• Previous keloids: If you've had one, you're at higher risk for more

Common Keloid Locations

• Ear keloids: Most common — after ear piercing (especially second/third piercings)
• Chest/sternum: After surgery, acne, or scratches
• Shoulders and upper back: After surgery or acne
• Face: After acne, chickenpox, or surgery
• Abdomen: After C-section or abdominal surgeries

Keloid Treatment Options at Dr. Nagpal's Clinic

1. Intralesional Steroid Injections (First-Line Treatment)

Triamcinolone acetonide injections are the most proven keloid treatment. The steroid breaks down excess collagen, flattening and softening the keloid.

• Sessions: Every 3–4 weeks
• Number: 3–6 sessions typically needed
• Success rate: 50–70% for flattening
• Best for: Small to medium keloids
• Mildly painful during injection — topical anesthesia helps

2. Laser Therapy for Keloids

Vascular lasers (PDL) and ablative fractional lasers are used for keloid reduction.

• PDL (Pulsed Dye Laser): Reduces redness, itching, and flattens keloid
• Fractional CO2: Resurfaces the keloid surface
• Often combined with steroid injections for better results
• 4–6 sessions needed

3. Surgical Removal + Steroid Injections

Surgery alone for keloids has a 50–80% recurrence rate. However, when combined with post-surgical steroid injections or pressure therapy, recurrence drops significantly.

• Best for large keloids or those unresponsive to injections
• Steroid injections start 2–4 weeks after surgery
• Continue injections for 6–12 months post-surgery

4. Silicone Gel/Sheet Therapy

Used as an adjunct or maintenance therapy. Silicone sheets applied daily hydrate the scar and reduce collagen production.

• Wear 12–24 hours daily for 3–6 months
• Best for new/fresh keloids or post-treatment maintenance
• No side effects — suitable for all ages

Keloid Prevention — Important Tips

• If keloid-prone, avoid unnecessary piercings or surgeries
• For any wound, apply silicone gel early to prevent keloid formation
• Treat wounds promptly and keep them clean
• Avoid sun exposure on new scars
• For ear piercings: Use flat earrings, not heavy dangling ones
• If you must have surgery, inform surgeon about keloid history for special wound closure techniques

Keloid Treatment — Realistic Expectations

Keloids are challenging to treat — there is no single treatment that works 100% for everyone. However, modern combination therapy can significantly:

• Flatten the keloid (reduce height)
• Reduce itching and pain
• Improve color — from red/dark to skin-tone
• Prevent further growth

Complete elimination is possible in many cases, especially for ear keloids and small keloids treated early.