Scars and keloids

Scars form as skin heals after an injury, surgery, burn or acne. Most fade over time, but some stay raised, dark, red or tight.

Hypertrophic scars are raised but stay within the area of the original injury. Keloids grow beyond the original wound and can keep getting larger. Keloids are more common in people with darker skin and can run in families. Earlobes, the chest, shoulders and upper back are common spots.

Signs and symptoms

• Raised, firm or thick scars
• Scars that itch, hurt or feel tight
• Scars that are red, purple or darker than surrounding skin
• A scar that keeps growing

How we treat it

• Steroid injections to flatten and soften raised scars and keloids
• Silicone sheets and gels
• Laser treatments to reduce redness and improve texture
• Scar revision surgery for some scars
• Cryotherapy for some keloids

Keloid removal

Keloids can come back after they are removed, sometimes larger. To lower that risk, surgical removal is usually combined with steroid injections or other treatment afterward, and we follow up closely for months. Your provider will talk through whether removal makes sense for your keloid.

Where it is offered

Scars and keloids Q&A

Related care

• Scar revision
• Steroid injections
• Earlobe repair
• Acne scar treatment