Keloids are a distinctive type of raised scar that can emerge after various forms of skin injury. They represent an overgrowth of scar tissue, differing from typical scars that usually flatten and fade over time.
Understanding Keloids
Keloids are characterized by their thick, raised texture, often extending beyond the original wound boundaries. Their color varies, ranging from pink or reddish to purple, brown, or darker than the surrounding skin, depending on complexion and age. They are firm, rubbery, or shiny nodules or plaques, with a lumpy or ridged surface.
Keloids can cause physical sensations. Common symptoms include persistent itchiness, which can be intense, and tenderness or discomfort when touched. Some individuals may also experience pain, or the keloid might feel hypersensitive to temperature changes or friction from clothing.
When keloids develop over joints or large skin areas, they can restrict movement, leading to functional limitations. This is particularly noticeable in areas like shoulders, elbows, and knees, where large keloids can impede the full range of motion. Keloids are benign and not contagious.
How Keloids Form and Who Is Affected
Keloids develop as a result of an overactive wound-healing process where the body produces an excessive amount of collagen, a protein crucial for skin repair. This overproduction causes the scar tissue to grow outwardly, beyond the margins of the initial injury. While the exact reasons for this overreaction are not fully understood, it is believed to be a dysfunction in the normal healing mechanism.
Various types of skin injuries can trigger keloid formation, including surgical incisions, cuts, burns, and even minor abrasions or scratches. Common instigators also include acne scars, chickenpox blemishes, ear piercings, tattoos, insect bites, and vaccination sites. Rarely, keloids can even appear spontaneously on skin that has not sustained a known injury.
Several factors increase an individual’s susceptibility to developing keloids. Genetics play a significant role, as keloids tend to run in families, suggesting an inherited predisposition. People with darker skin tones, such as those of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent, are more prone to keloid formation. Age is another influencing factor, with keloids being most common in individuals between 10 and 30 years old, though they can occur at any age. Certain body locations, like the earlobes, chest, and shoulders, are also commonly affected.