Keloid Removal

People often come to Westover Hills Dermatology looking to remove or reduce the appearance of keloids — the raised pink or red scars that are often larger than the original injury and tend to grow over time. Many people have keloids but may not realize that they can be treated. Keloids can form on any party of the body from a cut, burn, or even acne, but are most commonly found on the chest, ears, shoulders, and back. If you have keloids you would like removed, call Westover Hills Dermatology today to schedule a consultation at our San Antonio office. 

Why Do Keloids Form?

Doctors are not entirely sure what causes keloids, other than the idea that cell signals get confused during healing causing an abnormal formation of the scar. People with darker skin pigmentation are most at risk for keloids, but they can occur in all skin types.

How Do I Get Rid of Them?

Treatment of keloid scars is a delicate process since we do not want to cause more keloids to form after removal. Our experienced doctors will talk with you at your appointment about which treatment will be best for your particular case depending on your age, the size of the keloid, and its location. Depending on these factors we may suggest one or several treatments, including injections, surgery, and laser treatments.

What Can I Expect?

Here are some of the treatments we use, and what you can expect for each: 

• Injection: An injection with corticosteroid is often the first line of treatment for keloids. You can expect to come into the office for three or four treatments, spaced about a month apart. The goal for these injections is to flatten the keloid scar and reduce any itching or burning you may be experiencing.
• Surgery: If our doctors determine that surgical removal would best treat your keloid, you can expect to be given a local anesthetic as our staff removes the keloid in the office with traditional or laser techniques. We will watch it closely and treat with post-surgical options as needed in an effort to help it heal without developing another keloid.
• Laser: Laser resurfacing can be used over the course of several treatments to reduce the appearance of keloid scarring. This procedure has little to no downtime, and you can expect full results within a few months.

If you would like to discuss your specific case and questions, do not hesitate to contact us at Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio. Our friendly staff looks forward to working with you to address your concerns and pick the best treatment for you.