Keloids & hypertrophic scars

Keloids are fibrotic tumors characterized by a collection of atypical fibroblasts with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix components, especially collagen, fibronectin, elastin, and proteoglycans.

Hypertrophic scars are more common. Hypertrophic scars sometimes are difficult to distinguish from keloid scars histologically and biochemically, but unlike keloids, hypertropic scars remain confined to the injury site and often mature and flatten out over time.

Cause of Keloids & hypertrophic scars

Keloid scars can result from any type of injury to the skin, including scratches, injections, insect bites, tattoos or surgery procedures. Keloid scars can appear anywhere on the body, but most commonly occur over the breastbone, on earlobes and on shoulders.

Symptoms of Keloids & hypertrophic scars

Symptoms include

• pigmentation of the skin,
• itchiness,
• redness,
• unusual sensations and pain.

Treatment of Keloids & hypertrophic scars

Hypertrophic scars generally settle in time but keloids may prove resistant to treatment. The best initial treatment is to inject long-acting cortisone (steroid) into the keloid once a month. After several injections with cortisone, the keloid usually becomes less noticeable and flattens in three to six month's time. Hypertrophic scars often respond completely, but keloids and are notoriously difficult to treat, with recurrences commonly seen. Superficial X-ray treatment soon after surgery.

Amyloidosis
Connective tissue naevi
Dermatofibroma
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Ehler's Danlos syndrome
Elastosis perforans serpiginosa
Keloids & hypertrophic scars
Lipodystrophy
Lipoma
Mastocytoma
Neurofibroma
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Reactive perforating collagenosis
Striae (stretch marks)
Eosinophilic fasciitis
Erythema multiforme
Histiocytoses
Jessner's lymphocytic infiltrate
Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Lymphocytoma cutis
Lymphomatoid papulosis
Mastocytosis
Morphoea
Non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Panniculitis
Reticulohistiocytosis
Sweet's disease
Systemic sclerosis
Atypical mycobacterial infection
Granuloma faciale
Granuloma annulare
Cutaneous tuberculosis
Leprosy
Pyogenic granuloma
Sarcoidosis