How to Reduce Pain During Keloid Scar Injection Treatment | [Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon]

Keloid scars, once formed, often do not subside on their own over time and can cause daily discomfort with itching and pain. When researching treatments, you might first encounter the question: "I hear injection treatment is the most common, but is it really that painful?" To answer directly, the pain in keloid injection treatment is a temporary reaction during the injection process rather than from the medication itself, and methods to reduce this pain have been researched alongside the treatment.

Keloid refers to a condition where fibrous tissue grows abnormally dense during the healing process after skin damage. Unlike typical scars, keloids swell beyond the original wound area and do not shrink over time.

These keloid scars are not merely an aesthetic issue. Many people complain of itching or stinging in the scar area, and discomfort when clothes brush against it. It's also common for people to be concerned about them alongside similarly raised cosmetic surgery scars or surgical scars.

Among keloid treatments, injection therapy is the most widely known. It involves directly injecting a steroid medication called triamcinolone into the scar area.

When this medication enters the keloid tissue, the following changes are reported:

• Alleviation of irritating symptoms like itching and pain
• Gradual reduction in the height of the raised scar
• Suppression of the growth of densely packed fibrous tissue
• Softening of redness or hardness on the scar surface

In clinical practice, it's often observed that treatment is not completed in a single session but rather spread over several sessions at regular intervals, monitoring changes in the scar. However, the effectiveness and response may vary depending on the scar's size and location, and individual skin condition.

You can find detailed treatment procedures in the Triamcinolone Scar Injection guide.

Many people worry, "Is the medication so strong that it hurts?" but the actual pain is more related to the physical stimulus at the moment of injection than to the medication's ingredients. Pain temporarily occurs when the injectable medication is introduced into the skin.

The problem is that this pain often leads people to postpone or discontinue treatment. Despite being a potentially effective treatment, the fear of pain holds them back.

For questions, contact us via chat for keloid scar treatment inquiries

At Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon, we also utilize a low-pain vibration method to reduce discomfort. The principle is surprisingly simple.

The sensations of vibration and pain share the same nerve pathways. Therefore, if vibration stimulation is applied to the area during injection, pain signals are transmitted less, reducing the patient's perceived pain.

This is the same principle behind gently tapping the area when receiving an injection in the buttocks at a hospital. In our internal comparative tests, using the vibration method significantly reduced pain compared to regular injections. However, the degree of pain may vary from person to person.

Using the low-pain vibration method does not change the concentration or ingredients of the medication. The triamcinolone medication used remains the same. This means we aim to reduce discomfort during the treatment process without compromising efficacy.

Here are some points to consider before and after treatment:

• Keloids often do not disappear on their own, so consultation is recommended over neglect.
• The number of treatments and response may vary depending on the size and location of the scar.
• Both treatment effectiveness and pain levels can vary individually.
• If itching or pain is severe, consider seeking medical attention to reduce daily discomfort.

If keloids are causing daily discomfort, we recommend consulting with a medical professional to accurately assess the scar's condition rather than enduring it alone. A dermatologist will conduct the consultation and procedure directly, and together, you will establish a personalized treatment plan tailored to your scar condition.

Chief Director Lee Sang-Joo (MD, PhD, Yonsei University College of Medicine and Graduate School; Completed Dermatology Residency at Severance Hospital; President of the Korean Dermatological Association) Chief Director Lee Sang-Joo's Profile First Published 2024-01-10 / Last Reviewed 2026-06-16

This content is for general informational purposes only, and since scar conditions and treatment responses vary individually, accurate diagnosis and treatment should be determined through consultation with medical staff.