With our daily busy lives, body injuries are almost inevitable. Whether serious or just minor injuries, we’ll at one time find ourselves in such situations. While some injuries will fade with time, others will lead to permanent scars that necessitate some scar removal measures.
Depending on the type of injury, scars will often occur in various sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. Today we look at a specific type of scar known as a keloid scar. This is a notorious scar type that can be prompted by various reasons, and that is quite visible.
But no need to worry! If you’ve been suffering from keloids and have tried numerous solutions without success, AwdMed has the ultimate solution. But, before that, first things first! Let’s understand what these scars are and how they occur.
What are the Keloid Scars?
These are tough raised scars on the skin. Keloid scars mostly occur on an injured spot on your skin, after it heals. In some instances, these scars can grow and become larger than the initial injury.
The worst thing with Keloids is that they can occur anywhere on your body, from your face, hands, thighs, or even stomach. They can also be caused by almost anything from a simple cut, burn, severe acne, tattoo, or surgery. And, some of them don’t stop growing unless an intervention is made.
Even worse, some keloids turn up itchy, which can be quite uncomfortable. Some keloid scars will start to show up around three months or more after an injury and keep growing. Unlike many scars, which regress over time, Keloids do not.
But why do they form?
Most people would ask!
Well, Keloid scars occur as a result of excess protein (collagen) when the skin is healing. This causes the skin to grow and bulge.
Although keloids are not harmful, some will create quite notable scars that make some people uncomfortable. This is the reason why many people will seek scar removal methods to get rid of the keloid.
Who can get Keloids?
Although anyone can get a keloid scar, some people are more prone than others. For instance, you are more prone to these scars if you are:
-
Black, Asian or Latino – dark-skinned people have a higher chance of getting keloids (15% to 20%)
-
A teenager, especially during puberty
-
Below age 30 years
-
Pregnant
People with a previous history of keloids in their families are also likely to develop these scars.
Symptoms and Signs of Keloid Scar
How do you identify a keloid scar from normal scars? For starters, keloids are raised from your skin. Also, they are shiny, dome-like, and in varying shades between pink and red. And, although not harmful, some might be itchy or sometimes painful.
Best Method to remove a Keloid Scar
So, how do you treat a keloid scar, how do you get your normal skin back? Here are some unique keloid scar removal techniques.
This is among the safest ways to get rid of your visible scars and get your smooth skin back. Whether it’s old or newly developed scars, these silicone strips are a perfect way of flattening those bumpy keloids. They help to soften the scars and make them disappear.
With the right silicone scar removal sheets, you can be sure of 100% safety when using them. And, it doesn’t matter which kind of scar you’re having. Silicone strips are ideal for any kind of a scar. Whether it’s a C-section scar, a burn keloid, or acne, these strips are safe.
They are mostly made from breathable material that offers flexibility and adhesiveness. Most are also washable and can be reused up to two weeks if properly maintained. And, they are quite comfortable to wear – you won’t even notice you’re wearing them.
If you prefer an alternative method to silicone sheets, silicone scar removal gel is a great one. For starters, silicone is widely known and medically approved for keloid removal. This is because silicone is widely known to have minimal side effects on your skin, is effective, and easy to use.
According to reviews by the “Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery,” if you apply the silicone gel as directed, it’s an effective method of flattening your keloid scars.
An excellent example of such silicone gel is the “AWDMed Advance Medical Silicone Scar Gel.” This silicone gel has numerous benefits, including:
It helps to regenerate skin cells around on the scar, removing the dark shade of the scar. In essence, it helps to disrupt the process of scar formation.
It is significantly safe to use, especially for people with sensitive skin or children. This makes it reliable for any kind of keloid –whether on your face or shoulder.
Effectiveness – silicone gel is quite effective as it is easily absorbed by the skin, which leads to quicker results. It is also consistent in the application, unlike the scar removal creams.
Acts as a protective layer – besides its cosmetic value, this silicone gel will protect your skin against bacterial infections that may lead to more collagen production. This prevents further skin bulges during healing.
Offers comfort – since some keloids can be itchy, or painful, the silicone gel reduces the itchy effect and makes your skin softer. It also contains vitamin E that helps in fading, old stubborn scars.
Other Keloid Treatment Method
Besides the silicone sheeting and gel methods, you can still get that keloid removed through other means. These might include:
3. Injection
One keloid scar removal plan is medicine injections. This can include corticosteroids or other drugs injections. The dermatologist makes the injections on the keloid, which then helps to soften and shrink the scar.
Usually, you will receive several injections every three or four weeks. Averagely, you will need around four visits to your doctor for the injections.
Although around 50% to 80% of keloids will shrink after the injections, some keloids are much stubborn and will re-emerge within five years.n This makes it necessary for the dermatologists to include extra therapy to make the treatment plan more effective.
4. Keloid Surgery (Surgical Removal)
This treatment plan involves completely cutting out the keloid from your skin. However, this treatment is not as permanent as it seems. Although the keloid is completely removed, almost 100% of the keloids re-emerge unless another plan is incorporated.
That is why dermatologists combine surgical removal with injections to ensure that the keloids don’t return. Corticosteroid injections or cryotherapy are effective treatment plans that can help minimize the risk of keloid returns. In addition, radiation treatments can also be effective.
5. Radiation Treatment
Although quite new, this is a treatment plan for keloids that shows promising results. The plan involves a short radiation therapy course, offered right after surgical removal. Based on some plastic surgery studies and other dermatology literature, this treatment has a high cure rate in removing keloid scars.
6. Cryotheraphy
Cryotherapy is yet another effective way of removing keloid scars and getting back your beautiful skin. The process involves the temporary freezing of skin tissues on the keloid, without affecting the tissue under it. For some people, this can be a painful process, while others take it quite well.
However, cryotherapy treatment is more effective on small keloid scars that are less than three years old. Also, if done after corticosteroid injections, it can offer greater results. Several studies have shown that this process, on its own, can reduce a keloid scar by up to 50% in size.
7. Ligature
Ligature treatment involves tying a surgical thread around a keloid. With time, the surgical thread will cut down the keloid until it falls. Your dermatologist might recommend the ligature method if your keloid is big enough to hold the thread.
However, the process requires that you change the thread once after two or three weeks until the keloid falls.
8. Pressure treatment
When you apply pressure on a wound after a keloid surgical removal, it plays a major role in eliminating a keloid scar. The pressure exerted on the area helps to reduce blood flow, thus preventing any resurgence of the keloid.
Over 90% of patients, who follow the directions of this treatment to the letter, prevent the emergence of another keloid scar. However, following these directions can sometimes be difficult. These devices are somewhat uncomfortable and require you to wear them for around 16 hours each day, for up to twelve months.
Conclusion on Keloid Scar Removal
Although most keloids are quite harmless, most people will often feel uncomfortable living with them. This is, especially if they occur on a visible part of your body. The above scar removal methods are quite effective, although most of them require a combination of two or three treatment plans.
Silicone sheets and silicone scar removal gels are among the best methods that are also easy and friendly to your skin. If you notice any growth of a keloid after an injury, it’s better to seek treatment first, before they grow any bigger. However, make sure you consult your dermatologist before taking any action
