Believe it or not, there’s very little known about the source of keloids and why the form. Fortunately there have been a number of different methods developed over the years to treat them. The most effective treatments you can only get from a doctor.

First of all, it should be said that the best treatment is prevention. Of course if you don’t know you’re prone to keloid scarring this can be nearly impossible. But if they run in your family or you are at a higher risk (such as if you have darker skin complexion) there are certain things you should try and avoid. This includes piercings, whether they are in the ear, nose, or some other location. Often the location of a piercing is the first place many people will develop a keloid. So if you’re think you’re at high risk, it’s probably best to avoid doing this. It’s understandable that at certain ages, such as our teen years, we all may have the desire to get a piercing. But when you weigh the odds, it’s not worth the risk if you are predisposed to this condition.

Surgical Removal
This is probably the most effective way to remove them, especially when combined with other treatments. Unfortunately if you have a large scar there is little that can be done to improve it other than having it cut off by a doctor. Fortunately the procedure is performed by a dermatologist and is often rather simple. The doctor will inject a local anesthetic into the area so you don’t feel anything. He will remove the scar tissue and close your skin up with either stitches or sutures.

Other Removal Techniques
There are a number of other techniques utilized which are not as common. Laser treatments are available but there are a couple drawbacks with this method. First of all the laser only penetrates the top surface of the scar, so it’s not very effective at treating thick or bulky keloids. However lasers may be effective in treating the discoloration associated with flat scars. Unfortunately a person usually requires a series of several laser sessions and these can be costly.

Other possible treatments for keloids include  freezing (cryotherapy). Because keloids can be very difficult to reduce or remove, it is important to work with a physician who specializes in skin scarring and healing to help find the best treatment. A low dose treatment of radiation is sometimes used but its been said its effectiveness is not the best.

Topical Ointments and Creams
There are a number of prescription and non-prescription creams on the market for treating keloids. Some may help but many don’t. And all of them are generally only helpful when treating newly developing scars soon after detection. Generally the active ingredients in these are silicone gel and onion bulb extract. Silicone scar sheets and gels have been shown to be helpful for other types of scars too.