Have you ever had a healed wound site swell up larger and harder than before? Keloid scars are not just simple scars but a constitutional reaction where the connective tissue in the dermis proliferates excessively, and it's often difficult to reduce them with a single method. Therefore, we will first address why combination treatment using scar injections and lasers is important.
Many people look into plastic surgery to enhance their appearance or resolve complexes. As this process involves artificially changing our bodies, it's necessary to carefully check the condition and make a cautious decision. Especially if you have a constitution where your skin easily swells or marks linger after an injury, you might hesitate before undergoing surgery that involves incisions.
Having such a constitution does not necessarily mean you cannot undergo incisional surgery. However, there's no harm in choosing carefully, so let's systematically examine what keloid scars are, where they tend to form, and if there are ways to prevent or treat them.
What is a Keloid Scar?
Keloid refers to the process where fibroblasts in the skin's dermis abnormally produce a large amount of connective tissue, such as collagen. As a result, a red, raised lesion forms on the skin, which can gradually contract over time and cause deformation in the surrounding skin.
This excessive tissue can also stimulate peripheral nerves in the skin, sometimes leading to itching or pain.
Keloids are not merely unsightly scars; they are a dermal overgrowth reaction that can also cause symptoms like itching and pain.
Areas Where Keloid Scars Commonly Occur
These scars have specific areas where they commonly occur. The typical areas where they frequently appear are as follows:
- Chin
- Chest
- Back
- Neck
Conversely, they are relatively less common on thin-skinned areas of the face, such as the eyelids. If you were hesitant about surgery due to concerns about cosmetic surgery scars like double eyelids, it might be helpful to note that the eyelid area generally carries less burden.
Why Are the Causes Not Clear?
To solve any problem or prevent it in advance, understanding its cause is paramount. Unfortunately, the exact cause of keloids has not yet been clearly identified. However, they tend to occur more frequently in individuals with a genetic predisposition.
If you have such a constitution, it is particularly important to be mindful of the following stimuli:
- Surgeries that can cause skin injuries
- Trauma or cuts
- Recurrent inflammation
- Untreated acne
Especially, acne can develop into scars, so it is a good preventive measure to reduce the likelihood of the problem occurring with appropriate treatment before the situation worsens.
Reasons for Approaching with Symptomatic Treatment
Knowing the cause helps in formulating a clear treatment plan, but when the problem itself is unclear, symptomatic treatment is often pursued. Symptomatic treatment refers to a method of addressing the visible symptoms when it is difficult to identify and treat the root cause of a disease.
Therefore, treatment involves applying appropriate relief methods tailored to excessive collagen deposition, vascular dilation, and proliferation. In clinical practice, it is often observed that addressing only one cause does not lead to satisfactory reduction, necessitating an approach that targets multiple mechanisms simultaneously.
Scar Injections and Lasers: Why Together?
Typical treatment methods include Triamcinolone Scar Injection, which dissolves accumulated collagen, and vascular laser, which destroys proliferated blood vessels by blocking the pathway for nutrient supply. The points targeted by these two methods are summarized in the table below:
| Treatment Method | Main Action |
|---|---|
| Triamcinolone Scar Injection | Dissolves accumulated collagen to reduce volume |
| Vascular Laser | Destroys proliferated blood vessels to block nutrient supply |
It is reported that combining Triamcinolone Scar Injection with keloid scar laser treatment can lead to more satisfactory results than choosing only one. This is because it simultaneously addresses different mechanisms: collagen deposition and vascular proliferation.
If you are curious about treatment, please use Inquire via chat consultation about keloid scar treatment.
Neglecting It Makes It More Difficult
Some people neglect keloid scars, thinking that if the problem can recur anyway, there's no need for treatment. However, another inconvenience of these scars is that their size can gradually increase over time. Eventually, the marks can become noticeably raised and larger, causing discomfort in daily life.
As the size increases, the area requiring treatment also expands, making the process longer and more complex. It is advisable to start treatment as promptly as possible.
Possible Changes During Treatment
Some individuals inquire about skin indentation or changes in skin color during the treatment process. These are temporary phenomena caused by scar injections and are not permanent; they are generally known to recover within 6 months to a year. While it's good to check the situation, you don't need to worry excessively. However, recovery patterns can vary individually, so if you notice any concerning changes, it is safer to confirm your condition through a consultation.
If you have any concerns during treatment, do not delay and confirm your condition through Keloid Scar Treatment Consultation.
While not everyone will necessarily develop keloid scars, knowing about them in advance can help you respond much more quickly if they do occur. Reviewing Symptoms and Management of Keloid Scars together can be helpful.
Dr. Sang-Joo Lee, Chief Director (MD, PhD, Yonsei University College of Medicine and Graduate School; Completed Dermatology Residency at Severance Hospital; President of the Korean Dermatological Association) Dr. Sang-Joo Lee's Profile First Published 2025-02-25 / Last Reviewed 2026-06-16
This content contains general medical information, and as symptoms and recovery can vary individually, please consult with medical staff for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.