Keloid and thickened scars
A thickened scar that stays within the edges of the wound we treat with microneedling and laser. That makes it flatter and less red.
If it grows beyond the edge of the wound it is a keloid and the treatment goes through your doctor. We assess alongside and coordinate, because too strong a stimulus makes a keloid larger.
What we look at
You tell a keloid from a thickened scar by three things. Those also decide who does the treatment.
Whether it grows beyond the edge of the wound
A hypertrophic scar stays within the original wound. A keloid grows beyond it, into the healthy skin.
How old it is and what it does
A hypertrophic scar often flattens after months to a year. A keloid stays or keeps growing, and that difference counts.
Where it sits and whether it itches
The breastbone, shoulders and earlobes are where keloid forms most often. Itching and pain come with it and say something about how active it is.
Inside or over the edge
They look alike and ask for different routes. The difference lies in whether the tissue stays within the original wound.
- Raised and red, but no larger than the scar itself
Thickened scar within the wound edge
hypertrophic scar
Collagen production overshot during healing, but the tissue stays within the borders of the original wound.
This we do treat, with microneedling and laser that make the tissue more even. Often in consultation with your doctor.
Flatter and less red is achievable. How much and in how many appointments, you hear after the assessment.
- Keeps growing beyond the original wound
A scar that grows over the edge
keloid
The tissue grows over the edges of the wound, into the healthy skin. Keloid is more common in darker skin; that is tied to predisposition.
Here the treatment goes through your doctor or dermatologist. We assess alongside and coordinate, because too strong a stimulus makes a keloid larger.
With a referral we look at what is possible alongside the medical treatment.
What helps and what we advise against
With keloid the predisposition counts for more than the care. What you do hold in your hands is how early someone looks at it.
This works
- Protecting a new scar from sun and tension, certainly in the first year
- If you are prone to keloid, mentioning it before any procedure, a piercing included
- Having it assessed as soon as it stays raised or starts to grow
- Mentioning itching and pain, because they say something about how active the tissue is
We advise against this
- Scratching, squeezing or pulling a plaster tight over it yourself
- Having a keloid treated without a doctor having looked at it
- Waiting for it to pass on its own. A keloid usually does not
- A new piercing or tattoo in a place where keloid formed before
What we use for this
Scar therapy
€ 100For scars after surgery or a caesarean. The price follows the length of the scar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference from an ordinary thick scar?
A hypertrophic scar stays within the original wound and often flattens over time. A keloid grows beyond it and stays.
Do you treat keloid?
The treatment of a keloid goes through your doctor or dermatologist. We assess alongside and coordinate on what is possible in addition, because too strong a stimulus makes a keloid larger.
Why do I get them and others do not?
Predisposition plays the largest part, and keloid is more common in darker skin. It says nothing about how you cared for a wound.
Can I still get a piercing or a tattoo?
In a place where keloid formed before, that is inadvisable. Discuss it with your doctor before having anything done.
Does it come back after treatment?
With keloid that chance is real, and that is exactly why it belongs with a doctor. What the chance is in your case, you hear there.
Book a consultation at Diba Clinics
The therapist establishes whether it is a thickened scar or a keloid, and what fits with that in your case. With a keloid we consult your doctor.
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