“Keloids are raised scars which can be prompted from an overgrowth of scar tissue and could be itchy, tender or painful,” says Dendy Engelman MD, FACMS, FAAD, a board-certified and award-winning dermatologist at Shafer Clinic in New York Metropolis. “They are often pink or purple in coloration and are triggered by any kind of pores and skin harm that causes the physique to overproduce collagen, which is the protein utilized in wound therapeutic.”
So you may make an knowledgeable resolution about getting your ears pierced, we spoke to a few dermatologists to uncover every thing it is advisable to find out about keloids.
What are keloids, and why do they happen after piercings?
You might already be aware of the time period keloid from the skin-care world, as some of these scars are sometimes related to zits. When the pores and skin is injured (which occurs once you pop a pimple, or, on this case, once you pierce your pores and skin with a needle), collagen turns into broken. Your pores and skin cells and connective tissues begin to multiply in an try and restore that injury, which results in scarring.
“The physique doesn’t know {that a} piercing is an intentional harm, so the wound therapeutic course of kicks into impact and may trigger scar tissue to type and continue to grow and creating, turning right into a keloid,” says Dr. Engelman.
Who tends to develop keloids and why?
“Though it’s not fully recognized why, keloids usually tend to happen in these with darker pores and skin, with research displaying that keloids are mostly seen in people of African and Asian descent, in addition to these of Hispanic and Mediterranean descent,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a number one board-certified dermatologist and assistant medical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical Heart. In different phrases, there’s a genetic element at play.
What are the remedy choices for keloids?
Keloids are difficult to deal with, however there are a number of remedy choices obtainable to do away with them for good. The toughest half is guaranteeing that the vicious circle of eradicating them, inflicting harm to the pores and skin, and keloid formation doubtlessly re-occurring stops, as soon as and for all.
So, what selections do you have got for remedy?
“On the whole, keloids are mostly handled with using intralesional injections, utilizing intralesional triamcinolone, a sort of steroid,” says Dr. Garshick. “Different remedy choices embody intralesional injections of a sort of chemotherapy often known as 5-fluorouracil, silicone gels equivalent to Biocorneum or Silagen, or silicone sheets equivalent to Scarguard.”
Radiation, cryotherapy, lasers, or surgical removing are additionally choices, however Dr. Garshick is hesitant to suggest surgical procedure. “Surgical removing is mostly not really useful given the chance of the keloid coming again even bigger than earlier than, so if surgical procedure is deliberate, you will need to deal with with radiation or steroid injections instantly after surgical procedure to forestall keloid recurrence,” she says.
If a keloid does begin re-forming, it may be retreated with intralesional cortisone injections to cut back its dimension and signs, equivalent to ache and itching.
How can I stop keloids within the first place?
query that comes with a easy, if not so enjoyable, reply.
“If somebody is susceptible to keloids with a household historical past, it might be really useful to keep away from any piercings, tattoos or elective procedures, particularly in cosmetically delicate areas. Frequent areas for keloids to develop embody the ears, neck, arms, legs, higher again, shoulders and chest,” says Dr. Garshick.
Rebecca Marcus, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founding father of skin-care model Maei MD agrees, revealing that correct wound care is vital if you happen to do endure a pores and skin harm.
“Be sure you correctly clear any wound, as an infection might doubtlessly elevate the chance of creating a keloid,” she says. “Attempt to cut back any stress and stress on the wound because it heals too; as avoiding extreme stretching, motion, or strain on the affected space can lower danger of keloid scar formation. Defend any therapeutic wounds from the solar as properly.”
One last item. The entire dermatologists we spoke to say how vital it’s to hunt remedy sooner somewhat than later if you happen to discover a keloid forming, as they’re much simpler to deal with in its preliminary early levels.
So if you happen to discover something that doesn’t look fairly proper after your piercing, don’t maintain again from making a dermatologist appointment, however in any other case, take pleasure in your stunning new piece of physique artwork.
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