A scar is a visible mark due to previous injury or surgery. Any type of injury to the skin that is deep enough to breach the second layer of skin [called dermis] will usually result in a scar. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about scar formation, appearance, and relationship to age of the person and even about plastic surgery and scar. The five important myths are given below.
If you have a family history of bad scars or belong to black or eastern-oriental races, the tendency is very strong.
It needs aggressive multi-modal treatment by laser, IPL, compression garments, silicone sheets, steroid injections etc. done under care of a plastic surgeon. Sometimes the scar will have to be ‘revised’ or surgically removed and the wound closed by improved techniques followed by all of the above.
No, keloid is a more severe condition. See below.
It is a condition where a thick scar forms on a site of injury or even without clear-cut injury but where the scar spreads and involves nearby skin as well. So it grows sideways to involve more and more area. It causes intense itching and pain It can get infected or develop pits with ingrown hairs which in turn lead to infection; infected keloids are very painful. The sufferer may not even tolerate contact with the clothes or seat belt. Thus keloids can cause considerable suffering to the victim.
Common sites are: front of chest, shoulder, back and ears.
Treatment is difficult and unpredictable. Nevertheless, considerable and sometimes dramatic relief can be provided by judicious use of special treatment techniques. Injection of locally acting steroid into the lesion is the main-stay of therapy. These injections can be painful but can be made painless with extra care. Dr.Mohan uses special technique to make this almost painless. Several patients who have formerly shied away from injection treatment have been convinced to continue the full course of 6-8 sessions after experiencing the painless therapy here.
Other treatments such as pressure therapy, laser, and silicone tapes are also prescribed; the patient will be guided fully by the doctor and his staff. Most insurers do not cover keloid treatments!! Reason: Standard Exclusion!! This is an area where the insurance providers need to revise their rule book since keloids truly cause suffering and are not merely a cosmetic issue.
Ans: Keloids from piercings typically don’t go away on their own. They are raised scars that form due to excess collagen production. While they may not fade naturally, treatments like steroid injections, cryotherapy, and laser therapy can help reduce their size and appearance. It’s best to consult a specialist for proper care and treatment.
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