Keloid

A keloid is a special type of scar which results in an overgrowth of tissue at the site of a healed skin injury. The tissue extends beyond the borders of the original wound, does not usually regress spontaneously, and tends to recur after excision. Symptoms include pigmentation of the skin, itchiness, redness, unusual sensations and pain. Keloids are firm, rubbery lesions or shiny, fibrous nodules and can vary from pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown in color. A keloid scar is benign , noncontagious and usually usually accompanied by severe itchiness, sharp pains and changes in texture. A keloid, sometimes referred to as a keloid scar, is a tough heaped-up scar that rises quite abruptly above the rest of the skin. In Caucasians, for example, keloids are most common on the face and arms. Blacks tend to develop keloids most often on the face and legs. They are much more common in blacks than in whites and typically develop on the chest, shoulders, back, and, sometimes, face and earlobes. Keloids may be often be prevented by using a pressure dressing, silicone gel pad or paper tape over the injury site. This treatment is after healing of the wound or injury, usually within a month. Treatments include cryosurgery (freezing), excision, laser, x-rays, and steroid injections.

A keloid is an itchy, hard, raised, lump on the skin. When the skin is injured, cells grow back to fill in the gap. In other words, keloids are due to an excessive response to trauma such as a cut to the skin. This occurs in the dermis (the layer of skin just below the epidermis, the outer layer of skin). Keloids arise when there is too much collagen formed in the dermis during the repair of connective tissue. For instance, keloids are known to have occurred in 5 successive generations within a single family. This tendency to form keloids is important when someone of African or Asian descent is considering elective plastic surgery; the surgery can cause more trouble than it cures. In addition, a drug called alpha-interferon has been injected into the scar immediately after keloid removal with very promising results. Laser treatment is very good at improving skin texture and color, but doesn't always flatten out the keloid. Electron beam radiation can be used, which will not go deep enough to affect internal organs. Silicone pads and creams are sold over the counter for use on keloids. These do benefit hypertrophic scars but will not cure a true keloid. However, they can reduce pain, swelling and itching from a keloid. They usually take 3 months or more to work.

Causes of keloid

The common Causes of keloid :

While most people never form keloids, others develop them after minor injuries and even insect bites or pimples.
Keloids occur more frequently in dark-skinned people.
Keloids occur from such skin injuries as surgical incisions, traumatic wounds, vaccination sites, burns, chickenpox , acne , or even minor scratches. They are fairly common in young women and African Americans. Keloidosis is a term used when multiple or repeated keloids are produced.
Exposure to the sun during the first year of the keloid's formation will cause the keloid to tan darker than surrounding skin.

Symptoms of keloid

Some Symptoms of keloid :

Flesh-colored, red, or pink
Tenderness or itching.
Nodular or ridged.
Located over the site of a wound, injury, or other lesion.

Treatment of keloid

Some doctors have had success injecting keloids with bleomycin an anticancer drug.
A new treatment for keloids is to apply a silicone gel preparation over the keloid scar for 12-24 hours each day. This treatment is started three to four weeks after the wound or injury.
There is no satisfactory treatment for keloids.
The best treatment is to inject a long-acting cortisone into the keloid once a month. After several injections with cortisone, the keloid usually becomes less noticeable and flattens in three to six months time.

Nails Care

Anychia
Clawing of the Nails
Clubbing
Discoloration of the Nail Plate
Ingrowing Toe Nail
Koilonychia
Longitudinal Striations
Loss of Nail Plate
Onycholysis
Paronychia
Pitting of Nail Plates
Pterygium
Thickening of Nail Plate
Transverse Ridges

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