Keloid scars: how to remove them

When the skin is damaged, the healing process begins naturally. Two phenomena occur successively: skin regeneration and tissue consolidation.

Healing takes place in three distinct phases. Firstly, there is a phase of elimination of any bacteria and damaged cells. The cells fill the lesion and provide collagen and blood vessels to gradually replenish the skin.

Keloid is a benign skin disease. Sometimes, during the healing of a lesion, the skin does not heal normally. Fibrous blisters occur, creating a large build-up on the scar, either a red or dark brown skin growth depending on the patient's complexion.

Although keloids are safe and not contagious, they can sometimes be irritating and itchy. We specifically talk about keloid scars when they last beyond 18 months and exceed the surface area of the initial scar.

What causes a keloid scar?

Keloids appear mainly on skin lesions: post-surgery scars, cuts, acne scars, bites, or piercings.

Keloids appear when there are abnormalities in the healing process. Skin cells produce excessive fibrous tissue. The amount of collagen present in the skin increases the size and thickness of the scar, and it becomes hard and fibrous.

This phenomenon particularly affects adolescents and pregnant women. There is a significant number of keloids in people between 20 and 30 years of age. The skin tones of Asian, mixed race and black people are more prone to this skin anomaly. This overhealing is less frequent in Caucasian people.

How to treat keloid scars

In aesthetic medicine, there are treatments that reduce or eliminate keloids on any scars that do not naturally disappear.

The most common way to remove keloids is to use lasers. It works on the principle of projecting a pulsed light beam onto the scar. The CO2 laser or Erbium laser is a non-invasive treatment that uses dermabrasion to destroy excess tissue. Upon contact with the skin, the laser turns into energy and destroys the keloid. Several sessions may be necessary depending on the size of the keloid.

For small keloids, the plasma energy of a Plexr® also acheives good results.