Keloid Treatment in Point Cook

Keloids are raised, firm scars that spread beyond the edge of the original wound. Keloid treatment, including injections into the scar, is offered at the clinic and aims to flatten the scar and ease itch or tenderness.

How keloids form

Almost any skin injury can trigger one: cuts, surgery, piercings, burns, acne, chickenpox spots and even vaccinations. The chest, shoulders, upper back and earlobes are the most common sites. People with darker skin, those aged roughly 10 to 30, and anyone with a family history are more prone.

Weeks or months after the skin has healed, the scar keeps thickening. It can feel rubbery, look shiny, and be pink, red or darker than the surrounding skin. Itch and tenderness are common, and a large keloid can pull on nearby skin. They are not dangerous and are not cancer, but many people find them uncomfortable or self-conscious to live with.

Keloid or hypertrophic scar?

Not every thick scar is a keloid. A hypertrophic scar is also raised, but it stays within the line of the wound and often flattens slowly by itself over a year or two. Keloids spread past that edge and rarely settle without treatment. Telling the two apart matters, because it changes which treatment makes sense.

Keloid treatment options

Keloids seldom respond to one measure alone, so a combination is common. Approaches used in Australia include:

  • Corticosteroid injections directly into the scar, typically repeated every four to six weeks
  • Silicone gel or silicone sheets worn over the scar for several months
  • Pressure, such as special pressure earrings after an earlobe keloid is treated
  • Freezing, sometimes combined with injections
  • Surgery, radiotherapy or laser, which are specialist treatments; ask about referral to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon when these are worth considering

What injection treatment is like

Steroid injections into a keloid sting, and the scar can be tender for a day or so afterwards. Several injections are generally needed, and results vary from person to person. Some keloids soften and itch less after the first few, while others change very little. Possible side effects include thinning or a dip in the skin, a lighter patch, and small visible blood vessels around the scar. Even a keloid that responds well can return later.

Why cutting it out alone is avoided

Removing a keloid surgically without any other treatment often leads to regrowth, sometimes larger than before. Surgery is therefore generally combined with injections, pressure or radiotherapy afterwards, and it is usually arranged through a specialist.

Details worth having ready

A few details help the doctor judge the scar and plan what to try first:

  • When the scar appeared and what caused the original wound
  • Whether it is still growing
  • Whether anyone in your family gets keloids
  • What bothers you most: itch, pain, size or appearance
  • Creams, silicone products or dressings already tried, and how they went

Lowering the chance of new keloids

  • Think carefully about new piercings, tattoos or cosmetic procedures if you have had a keloid before
  • Mention past keloids to any surgeon before a planned operation
  • Look after cuts and grazes so they heal cleanly
  • Get acne treated early to limit skin damage
  • Ask about silicone for a new scar if you are prone to keloids

Lumps in a scar that need checking

Now and then, a lump that looks like a keloid turns out to be something else. One that grows quickly, bleeds or ulcerates should be examined, and a skin check is a sensible place to start.

Fees and bulk billing

This procedure is listed on our fees page, with the Medicare rebate and out-of-pocket fee. Fees can vary with the doctor and the complexity of the procedure, so please confirm when you book.

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