This week’s Ask A Doctor Kenya Question is about keloid treatment.
Dear Doctor, I developed swellings behind my ears a few year ago when my ears were pierced. These swellings have been removed twice but they still grow back. What can I do to remove them permanently?
Ask A Doctor Kenya Answer – Keloid Treatment
Swellings that develop behind the ears after they are pierced are known as keloids.
Keloids are “abnormal’ scars which develop when the skin is damaged because of abnormal healing of the skin. Keloids are “abnormal scars” because they do not stop growing when they should and this results in an overgrowth of scar tissue.
Keloid Symptoms
Symptoms of keloids include swellings which develop slowly over months in places where the skin has been injured. These swellings may be itchy or painful.
The types of skin injuries that can lead to the formation of keloids include body piercings (ear, nose, etc), surgical wounds from operations, tattoos, wounds from trauma (burns, falls, assault, etc) and skin diseases (acne, chickenpox, etc).
Persons with highly pigmented skin like Africans and African Americans are more likely to develop keloids. Men and women are equally affected and these swellings can develop at any age.
Keloids also have a genetic component since a person is more likely to develop them if members of their immediate family have keloids.
Keloid Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a keloid is usually made by the Doctor examining the swelling. If the swelling looks suspicious for a worrisome growth a skin biopsy may need to be done.
Keloid Treatment in Kenya
The following are some of the methods keloid treatment in Kenya:
1.Corticosteorid Injections
Corticosteroids are injected into keloids to reduce their size and soften them. 3 or more treatment sessions are usually required for optimum results and they are often combined with another method to make them more effective.
2. Keloid Surgery
Keloid surgery involves cutting off the entire keloid. It is often combined with other another method to reduce the likelihood of the keloids recurring
3. Laser Therapy
Lasers like the CO2 laser are used to reduce the size of the keloids and fade their color. Laser therapy is often combined with another method of treatment to make it more effective.
4. Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy involves freezing the keloid with liquid nitrogen. It reduces the hardness and the volume of the keloid while sparing the skin below it. 3 or more treatment sessions are usually required and cryotherapy is often combined with another method to make it more effective.
5. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is used after keloid surgery to prevent their recurrence.
6. Silicone Sheets and Silicone Gel
Silicon sheets are usually used to prevent keloids from recurring after keloid surgery. Silicone gel is also used to reduce keloids. They have to be used for more than 12 hours a day for periods of 6 to 12 months.
7. Pressure Garments and Pressure Earrings
Pressure garments are worn to prevent keloid recurrence on the body while pressure earrings are worn to prevent keloid recurrence on the ears after keloid surgery. These items apply pressure on the keloids and reduce their blood supply which prevents them from recurring. To be effective these pressure items must be worn for around 16 hours each day for 6 to 12 months.
Keloid Treatment Program
At Almasi Skincare we have developed a Keloid Treatment Program that is a combination of several treatment methods to ensure that the keloids do not recur once they are removed.
For effective keloid treatment in Kenya, Consult Us today at almasiskincare@gmail.com so that we can begin your Keloid Treatment Program.
