How Can You Remove a Keloid? 4 Benefits of Getting Treatment

A keloid can make life a little uncomfortable. It may not cause any harm to your health, but it is unsightly and may lower your self-esteem. When you are ready to get this condition taken care of, Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX has the experience to get this done effectively.

What Is a Keloid?

Keloids are simply areas of the skin with extra collagen. When your skin gets broken from acne, burns, piercings, or scratches, the body naturally produces extra collagen to close the skin up. A keloid occurs when the body produces too much collagen and does not stop when the wound is healed. This results in discolored and raised skin in the area where the wound used to be.

While having this on your skin will not cause any danger to your health, it is not pretty to look at. Many patients who want to remove this skin condition do so for cosmetic reasons.

Where Do They Form?

This collagen buildup may occur in many areas of the body. You will most likely find it on the neck, earlobes, and upper chest, though. Those with darker skin tones have a higher risk of this skin condition appearing. Even after treatment, the collagen may show up again.

You can recognize this spot on your skin because it is shiny, hard, and raised. These patches are often red when they first show up, but they may turn paler as time goes on. Though they usually do not cause pain, there are times when tenderness and soreness around the area will occur.

4 Benefits of Getting Treatment

1. Stops the Irritation

The most common negative issue that patients experience with this skin condition is irritation. The location may itch and feel irritated, especially if there is clothing or another object that rubs against it. This may turn into a mild annoyance that is hard to ignore. Removing this skin condition will make the irritation stop.

2. Improve Self-Esteem

Often this skin condition does not cause any pain, irritation, or loss of normal function in the body. But it may show up in the worst locations on the body and can lower your self-esteem. It is hard to feel confident and self-assured when you have a discolored and raised mark on the skin for all to see. It may feel like everyone is always staring right at the discoloration, even when they’re not.

Removing it can instantly help improve your self-esteem. You can concentrate on making a great first impression instead of worrying about how much others will stare.

3. Reduces Pain

While it is rare for these skin issues to cause pain, some patients will report this as a symptom of their keloid. When the skin condition sits on a nerve or a joint, it may cause pain. If the patient picks at or messes with that area of the skin, they are more likely to feel pain.

We can remove the skin condition to help alleviate any pain you feel. This treatment is quick and simple and will allow you peace of mind as well as relief from irritation and pain.

4. Returns Normal Function

In rare cases, this condition can cause enough damage to the area that normal functioning is not possible. When one of these collagen buildups starts to form on a joint, the joint may not perform as normal because movement is more difficult with the keloid present. If the spot forms on the elbow or knee, for example, bending and moving around may be a challenge.

Patients who remove the keloid find relief. Once the skin condition is removed, you should experience normal function in the affected area of the body once more.

How to Remove This Skin Condition

Once you decide to remove this skin condition, there are a few techniques your doctor can use. Some drugs and steroids can be effective, but most doctors will choose to work with surgical intervention. Some of the surgical techniques available include:

1. Cryotherapy

This is a treatment that freezes and destroys the scar. A substance is applied to the scar until it is frozen through, and as your cells freeze, water crystals form inside the cell, causing it to burst and fall off. Cryotherapy is a quick and painless way to remove this condition.

2. Excision

This is a treatment where our medical professional simply cuts the scar. The raised area of the scar will be removed, and any healthy skin that is under or around the scar will be gently sutured together to close that area up.

3. Lasers

Laser removal is becoming one of the most popular options for removing this skin condition. The light emitted from the laser will heat up the cells and destroy them. Because of advances in technology, a laser can be used without leaving a trace behind.

The risks of any of these treatments are low. You can discuss with your medical professional which method you should use. It may depend on your medical history, the location of the skin condition, and other factors.

There is no reason to suffer from this skin condition any longer. A medical professional can help you remove the condition and get back to life in no time. Contact us at Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX to set up your own consultation.