What You Need To Know About Keloids On Black Skin And How Common These Are

Scarring seems to be a problem among many people, but some say that these are more common on people with dark skin. The formation of keloids, while perfectly normal for some, isn’t a pretty sight. It mars the flesh and is unsightly.

What are keloids?

Keloids are basically raised scars once wounds or injuries heal. These often develop when scar tissue continues to form even after the skin heals. While this happens to several folks, keloids are usually more common among people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. While keloids are common, some can grow bigger in size to the point that it can be uncomfortable.

The good news is that keloids can now be treated. You don’t have to live your life suffering through the unattractive marks. Doctors have come up with a variety of products and technology that you can avail.

If you want to know more about the causes, appearance, prevention, and cure for keloids, especially on black skin, keep scrolling.

What causes the formation of keloids?

 Doctors and skin experts have yet to fully find out what causes keloids, but the British Association of Dermatologists claim that one possibility is that these develop when the body produces an excess of collagen when trying to heal a wound.

What is collagen?

Dermatologists often talk about collagen. We know that this protein is available, especially on young skin. Basically, collagen is produced by the body so that skin retains its elasticity. It also the very component that supports the body’s muscles, bones, and tissues.

The different causes of keloids 

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) gave a list on the many instances that cause keloids:

1. Puncture wounds and cuts
2. Tattoos
3. Body piercings
4. Severe acne
5. Insect bites
6. Viruses such as chickenpox
7. Scars attained from surgery
8. Injection
9. Hair that has been tied too firmly
10. Shaving

However, these are not just the only reasons. In some rare cases, people develop keloids spontaneously. Doctors have referred to these as spontaneous keloids and these oftentimes appear on the chest. People who are prone to this are those with a family history of developing keloids.

How do keloids look?

According to the experts of AAD, keloids often show themselves around 3 to 12 months after an injury occurs. It starts off looking like a red, pink, or purple scar. In time, these will turn darker than the skin. A border will also form, but the mark is oftentimes lighter in the center.

The British Skin Foundation (BSF) also say that scars look like shiny and hairless lumps of skin. Keloids change look over time. These grow either slowly or quickly over the next few weeks, months, and sometimes, even years. However, most marks have the tendency to grow slowly over time.

Keloids appear different for many people, and this will also depend on its location. On an earlobe, a keloid usually looks round and firm. On other parts, it’s a raised scar with a flat surface. The marks stand out because it’s different from the skin around. It can be either soft and dough-like, or hard and rubbery. Most do look solid. These look like they’ve been solidly planted on the skin. On the neck, abdomen, or ear, the keloid can be likened to a stalk as it hangs slightly and can even be moved when touched.

As for the size of the keloids, it will vary, depending on the size of the original wound. For those who have it, many claim that some of their marks even feel sensitive and tender when touched. And when it is growing in size, it can somewhat feel itchy. The symptoms usually abate themselves once the keloid stops growing.

Which populations are at higher risk for developing keloids?

As stated earlier by the experts in AAD, keloids are more common among people of Asian, Hispanic, and African descent. However, the BSF doesn’t exclude the other races (however rarer they may be) as some have also suffered from the unsightly marks.

According to studies, there are 4.5 percent to 16 percent of the population who suffer from keloids. People who are more prone to it are those with:

1. A family history, especially those from African or Asian descent
2. Hormonal upsurges, especially during puberty or pregnancy
3. Systemic conditions such as hypertension
4. Whose body still produces collagen, oftentimes men and women aged 10 to 30 years
5. Rare conditions, such as Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and Goeminne syndrome

How can keloids be prevented?

While preventing keloids, it’s not always easy. However, one shouldn’t lose hope. These are some of the things you can do:

1. Always pay close attention to an ear piercing, especially when you notice signs of changes such as thickening of the skin. What helps most is wearing a pressure earring.
2. Doing a skin test on a small patch before getting a tattoo, body piercing, or cosmetic surgery. See how the skin reacts first, and if you feel a tingling sensation, it’s best to wear a pressure garment to help stop the thickening.
3. Informing the doctor or surgeon first. He or she may know of techniques to reduce the likelihood of keloids. An after-treatment is also known to be useful.

The aftercare may also involve the following techniques:

1. Washing the affected area immediately with soap and water to keep it clean
2. Using sterile petroleum gauze as a bandage
3. Constantly cleaning the wound until it heals
4. Staying away from the sun or covering the wound when you go out during the day
5. Visiting a dermatologist for a treatment and prevention plan

What are the treatments available?

There are options, both surgical and nonsurgical. In a few cases, you can opt for the two to see better effects.

Nonsurgical treatments

The AAD state following nonsurgical treatments for keloids:

1. Corticosteroid injections: These anti-inflammatory drugs that a doctor injects shrink the keloid. A typical regimen would mean a weekly visit for 4 weeks. If done consistently and properly, you’ll see it shrink from 50 to 80 percent its original size. Some marks do come back within 5 years. Hence, always monitor your skin.

2. Cryotherapy: This involves freezing a keloid while preserving the skin underneath. This decreases the size of the keloid after three or more treatments. This one is optimal for smaller marks.

3. Laser treatment: Highly focused beams of light will be lasered onto the skin to reduce the height and to lighten the color of the keloid.

4. Ligature: By a surgical thread around a keloid every 2 to3 weeks, the pressure will cut into the scar and until it loses blood supply and falls off.

Surgical treatments

Then, there are methods that require a doctor to surgically remove a keloid. Unfortunately, this is not always a permanent solution. Studies show that almost 100 of the marks reoccur. To lower the chances of a return, doctors often recommend additional treatments after, which can be costly.

The AAD notes that the following treatments can opt for the following methods:

1. Surgery followed by radiation. Radiation makes use of beams of intense energy. It is more effective when combined with surgery.
2. Surgery followed by the use a pressure dressing, earring, or garment. Doctors highly recommend this especially after an earlobe surgery. The pressure reduces blood flow to the area, which is 90 to 100 percent. The drawback is that these devices are uncomfortable, especially when used for hours and months at a time.
3. Surgery followed by corticosteroids or cryotherapy. This also reduces the risk of the scar to reoccur.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions:

1. Can keloids flatten naturally? Keloids will never completely disappear, but sometimes, these do flatten on its own. A 2014 study shows that this happens to a third of the cases.

2. Are keloids symptoms of a more serious condition? Not at all. Keloids are more of a cosmetic issue. That is all there is to it.

Summary

Keloids are found to be more common on black skin. This happens after severe acne issues, piercings, or skin injuries such cuts, gashes, and punctures. The size and shape can differ, depending where they occur.

There are several ways to treat it. There are surgical and nonsurgical options for it. These include corticosteroid injections and cryotherapy. However, for the more severe cases, doctors say that employing both options work best to prevent it from fully coming back.