One of the most severe and unsightly types of scars are Keloid scars. These scars are shiny or rubbery lesions that are often firm and very puffy. The puffiness is caused by excess collagen deposits in the skin. The collagen is your body’s way of trying to repair the damaged skin. Hypertrophic scars are caused by excess collagen as well, but Keloid scars are more severe because they are composed of, primarily, type III or type I collagen. Also, Hypertrophic scars clear up over time while Keloid scars are tougher, bigger and do not clear up.
These types of scars vary in color. They can be pink, purple, red, dark brown or sometimes the same color as your skin. They can often become itchy or painful and many times they will grow beyond the initial injury. They start rising fairly quickly after the injury with an irregular shape and sometimes change texture as they grow.
After an injury or trauma to the skin, the body produces collagen to help seal the wound so it can heal. Keloid scars occur when there is so much collagen produced that it starts to invade the healthy skin around it and the wound becomes larger than it was before. They can even develop after a minor injury that gets infected. Keloid scars are more common in dark-skinned people and among those who have had them before. Once you get one of these scars; you are more susceptible to getting another one when you suffer an injury.
If you think you have keloid scars and you’re not sure what type of scarring it is that you might have, then I suggest you go visit your dermatologist to get a professional opinion. I’m sure that one of the scar creams that I’ve reviewed can help reduce the appearance of any of your scars but it’s best to ask a professional if you’re unsure.
