An injury or cut will usually develop a scar. Scars can be separated into three groups: atrophic or sunken scars, hypertrophic or raised scars, and keloid scars. Out of these types of scars, the most difficult to treat are keloids and here's why.

Keloid scars can develop from any type of wound, be it a cut, burn, or inflammatory reaction such as acne. As they develop, they begin to extend past the edges of the original site of damage. Sometimes, keloids keep growing for years.

Due to these characteristics, keloid scars can be difficult to eliminate. Keloid removal can be achieved through surgical excision, however, some people experience a high recurrence rate which makes surgery less than successful.

Trying to find an Effective Keloid Treatment Plan

Keloid scar removal does not depend solely on surgery, but also on complementary procedures that help minimize the recurrence rate. The most common procedures will include steroid injections and compression therapy. Because with this mix of surgery, injection, and compression you can achieve successful scar removal.

Steroid injections can also be used before and after surgery to help flatten out the scar. The doctor may also decide to inject steroids directly into the site of the scar during the excision process. This is done because there have been studies that show that this will help reduce the rate of recurrence.

Compression therapy has been used to treat keloid scars for a long time. Compression devices are custom made and should be worn for 24 hours a day to be the most effective. As soon as the wound heals, the doctor will indicate what type of compression garment or bandage you should use.

Compression garments or bandages are usually worn anywhere from 6 months to a year or two. No one actually knows how this type of garment works, but may speculate that the restriction of oxygen can help reduce the biological process that leads to the development of keloids.

Other Types of Option for Keloid Treatment

The procedures mentioned previously are only a couple of the options you can use to treat keloids.

For example, a pulsed-dye laser can help flatten keloids and reduce the redness they present. It is necessary to undergo several sessions to get the best results, but this is a painless procedure so that isn't much of a problem.

Silicone sheets are another alternative that can help reduce the appearance of keloids and other types of scars. They work much in the same way as compression devices do. However, silicone sheets are worn for fewer hours during the day.

Smaller keloids are usually treated using cryotherapy. The keloid is frozen with the help of liquid nitrogen. This type of therapy helps flattens the scar but can also cause the site to take on a darkened appearance.