Removal of a keloid may be performed with a variety of procedures ranging from surgical excision to laser excision. It is first essential to limit development of future keloids by treating any potential underlying skin diseases (e.g., acne).ĭermatologists commonly treat keloids with serial steroid injections directly into the lesion. Treatment of keloids can be very difficult since they commonly recur-sometimes even larger in size than prior to removal. What are the best treatments for keloids? The tendency in Africans is so pronounced that a number of African cultures have incorporated scarification (deliberate scaring) patterns into tribal or religious rights of passage, such as the onset of pubertyĪ keloidal scar is a thick dense, hard lump ranging from the size of a small sesame seed to that of a grapefruit, and expanding well beyond the area of the original injury or area of inflammation. They bear no relation to the depth of skin color, however the precipitating injury can be as minor as an insect bite or acne pimple or as extensive as surgical (even ear-piercing) wounds. They occur rarely in Caucasians and are more prevalent in those of South Asian ancestry and especially African sub-Saharan ancestry. Keloids are scars that continue to heal and grow beyond the time for normal wound healing.