Keloid and microneedling

What is a keloid?

Keloids are larger and more pronounced scars than usual, extending beyond the edges of an original wound or incision. They should not be confused with a hypertrophic scar where the tissue remains within the edge of the wound.

Why do they occur?

Their cause is unknown, but they are more common in people with darker pigmentation (especially African-American skin) and can develop after acne blemishes and boils, body perforations, burns, lacerations, and surgical wounds. Therefore, people prone to developing keloids should avoid unnecessary piercings, tattoos, and surgeries.

The presence of infection increases the risk of development, which is believed to result from an alteration in the activity and / or control of fibroblasts (cells responsible for the production of collagen from scars) .It is a complex mechanism in which hormones, genetic factors, and problems with the immune system are involved.

There is also evidence that a family history of keloid plays a role in the development of an individual keloid.

What are the symptoms of a keloid?

Keloids can occur anywhere on the body, they tend to be more frequent where there is little underlying fatty tissue (face, neck, ears, chest or shoulders).

It usually begins to develop between three months and up to a year after the original skin damage. So a gummy scar tissue appears beyond the edges of the original damage. It can become tender, painful, itchy, or even give a burning sensation. Over time, the red color changes to brown or turns pale.

Keloid growth over a joint can restrict movement.

What’s the treatment for keloids?

A keloid scar can shrink over time, but it rarely goes away completely. To reduce the occurrence of keloids, a wide variety of treatments can be effective: steroid infiltration, surgery, occlusive dressings, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, laser treatment, interferon treatment, cytotoxic drugs, and microneedles (dermapen).

Of all these modalities, the dermapen is the one that carries the least risk and side effects.

Your doctor will be the most informed on whether it is a valid option for your type of problem, or to propose the most appropriate one.

Bérénice Ibarra Ottino