Hello Slugmeister,
According to the following reliable site, keloids are permanent.
"Keloid scars cannot be removed. They can often be made to soften
and flatten by injection of a strong steroid into the skin. Injection
of 5-fluorouracil ( a strong chemical which in high doses is used as
chemotherapy) can also be atreatment that can help to stop a keloid
being thick. Another treatment which can help is the use of a
silastic covering dressing. This has to be used regularly for many
weeks to have a chance of working, but it has the advantage that it is
not painful at all..
Cutting a keloid out seems like a good idea, but it is not! Usually,
if a keloid is cut out, it comes back in the new scar and is therefore
bigger than before. Sometimes a combination of cutting out the keloid
and then immediately treating the scar site with radiotherapy and
steroid injection can be tried, but there is still a fair chance that
the keloid will come back bigger.?
http://www.bad.org.uk/public/frequently_asked_questions/
?Hypertrophic scars are scars that are raised. Keloids are scars
that are raised and extend beyond the borders of a normal scar.
Keloids have a tendency to occur more frequently in dark skin people.
Treatment: Flat scars can be hard to improve upon. Raised scars and
keloids have been shown to improve when sheets of silastic gel are
placed on them.
See a Dermatologist? When the above measures do not help then your
dermatologist may be able to treat your keloid more aggressively.
Scars, hypertrophic scars and keloids that are raised can be injected
with steroids. Keloids can be cut off or out. The body may try to form
another scar thus your dermatologist may inject the site of excision
with a steroid.?
http://www.dermatologistrx.com/freeadvice/scarkeloidrx.asp
?Keloid scars are actually thick, puckered, itchy clusters of scar
tissue that grow beyond the edges of a wound or incision and rarely
regress. Keloid scars are sometimes very nodular in nature, and they
are often darker in color than surrounding skin. They occur when the
body continues to produce tough, fibrous protein (known as collagen)
after a wound has healed.?
?Keloids are fibrotic tumors characterized by a collection of atypical
fibroblasts with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix
components, especially collagen, fibronectin, elastin, and
proteoglycans. Histologically, keloids contain relatively acellular
centers and thick, abundant collagen bundles that form nodules in the
deep dermal portion of the lesion. Keloids present a therapeutic
challenge that must be addressed as these lesions can cause
significant pain, pruritus (itch) and physical disfigurement, may not
improve in appearance over time, and can even limit mobility if
located over a joint.?
http://www.naturalbioskincare.com/benefits/keloids.html
Scar FX
========
One product, made of silicone elastomers is Scar FX -
?Doctors around the world have used Silicone Elastomers to treat
Hypertrophic and Keloid scars, scars caused from burns as well as
surgical scars. The medical literature reflects over 50 articles on
the treatment of scars up to 16 years old using this technology.?
http://scarheal.com/scar_treatment_therapy.htm
Mederma
========
Mederma is a product I have seen work, better for some than others.
It depends on your skin type and age of the keloid scar.
?Silicone sheets or gels show promise for scar revision. Best results
are obtained when the silicone is placed in contact with the scar 24
hours a day, many months at a time. The scars improve but never
completely resolve.
Finally, a new medication called Medermaâ seems to be very effective
for scar revision. This is a botanical extract with deep penetrating
ability. It is beneficial for scars resulting from surgery,
accidents/injuries, and burns. It?s also been shown to improve stretch
marks, acne scars and old existing scars. The scar is rubbed gently
three to four times a day. Depending on the rate of improvement,
treatment may be ongoing for up to six months. The manufacturer
guarantees improvement in the color, texture and overall appearance of
the scar.?
http://www.yourskindoctor.com/topics/Scars/scars.html
?Over-the-counter strips of Silastic or silicone also help make scars
-- even some old ones -- become flatter and turn white faster. No one
knows why, but the strips may keep moisture in.
With immature scars -- six to eight weeks old -- dermabrasion can make
a potentially bad scar less unsightly. The skin is ``sanded,'' under
local anesthesia, with a diamond wheel or rapidly-rotating wire
brushes, to grind the epidermis down to the level of the scar. The
epidermis then regrows, hopefully hiding the scar.?
?Silicone sheets -- such as ReJuveness, Sil-K, Silastic Gel Sheeting
and Cica-Care -- often work, dermatologists say, though nobody knows
why. One theory is that they may prevent water loss through the skin.
Another is that they may change the skin in a way that nudges collagen
-- the fibrous protein that scars are made of -- to re-align in a more
orderly fashion. Or perhaps the slight pressure from wearing a
silicone bandage may itself help a scar remodel.?
?Other products, such as Mederma or Kelocote, are gels that are spread
on scars. Mederma, made from onion extracts, may decrease the
thickness of some scars, but again, the evidence is sketchy and nobody
knows why it would work. Kelocote is a silicone gel that presumably
acts somewhat like silicone sheets.?
http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/health/health_sense/120798.htm
?Neosporin® Scar Solution
==========================
?Neosporin® Scar SolutionTM contains 28 silicone scar sheets that are
indicated for use on raised or discolored scars.
Silicone sheet technology is clinically proven to significantly
improve the appearance of scars and has been used by burn centers and
plastic surgeons for years.
Each sheet is thin, self adhesive and fabric-backed, which makes
Neosporin Scar Solution convenient to wear under clothing.?
http://www.neosporin.com/scarsolution/scarsolution.asp?page=5
Rejuveness
===========
Rejuveness was developed for burn patients, and came in large rolls
with which to cover serious burns. This works, but again, each
patient?s skin and condition varies.
?ReJuveness works by allowing a mild electrical current to stimulate
the skin's natural healing process. There is no sensation of any kind.
When applied over a scar daily, ReJuveness softens, smooths and
flattens scars, restoring the skin to a more normal texture and
colour, although some evidence of the scar will remain.
Treatment starts at one to two hours a day and builds up to 20 hours a
day. Any type of wound that can scar can benefit from ReJuveness, from
cuts, burns, acne and abrasions to stretch marks.?
http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=2539
http://www.healscars.ca/product_information/index.html
Of course, we can not predict how any of these products will work for
you, but I would skip the glycolic acid. Acne scars are very different
in composition than are keloids. I would try one of the silicone
sheets or Mederma. Note that they may take up to six months to work.
Please read each site posted to get complete information on each
product.
I hope this answer has been useful to you. Please ask for an Answer
Clarification, if any part of this answer is unclear.
Sincerely, Crabcakes
Search Terms
============
silastic dressings
Mederma + keloids
Silicone sheets + keloids |
Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
11 Dec 2005 19:58 PST
Hello Slugmeister,
I'm sorry you were unhappy with the answer. Most people are pleased
with getting additional information, not angry. Many people DO have
keloids and do not realize that they are of different composition than
acne scars, as I explained in my answer. I had no way of knowing how
much you knew about keloids, from your question, and was providing
snippets of information, as added information.
It seemed clear to me that when I wrote "I would skip the glycolic
acid. Acne scars are very different in composition than are keloids. I
would try one of the silicone sheets or Mederma. Note that they may
take up to six months to work.
Please read each site posted to get complete information on each product."
it meant that glycolic acid would not do the job on keloids. I see now
that I was not clear enough.
Your answer is NO, glycolic acid will not work for keloids.
If you were to read over all the material I posted, including the
accompanying links, you would also conclude that glycolic acid is not
for keloids.
" Silicon sheets are only indicated for either hypertrophic scars or a
scar remained as a result of surgery. Silicon sheets may not have any
effect on acne scarring. Among cell turnover accelerators, alpha
hydroxy acids or AHA, beta hydroxy acids or BHA and retinoids can be
named. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids or AHA is a compound found naturally in
many common fruits such as pineapple, berries, grape, sugar cane.
Among them glycolic acid, found in sugar cane and sugar beets, have
been used more prominently in cosmetics. AHA main action is to
accelerate shedding of skin cells in the topmost layers of the skin by
decreasing their cohesiveness. Continued use of glycolic-acid-based
products may result in a smoother epidermis and to some extent
elimination of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). In doing so AHA
generally can enhance the penetration of other agents and nutrients
such as Vitamin C, Zinc, amino acids, essential fatty acids and
ceramids. Simultaneously Glycolic acid helps to restore the barrier
function of the skin, thereby increasing tissue own moisture content.
There are evidences that suggest increase in collagen production in
dermis layer with use of AHA. Glycolic acid can make the skin more
sensitive to the effects of the sun?s UV rays; therefore use of
effective sunscreen is essential. Having said all that can AHA alone
be used for treatment of a scar? How significant is the effect of
AHA's in reducing a scar. The answer is pH and concentration of AHA
determine success of glycolic acid products. However, glycolic acid
products in their highest concentration available and in in lowest pH
tolerable by skin can not treat scars by themselves."
http://www.calcuttayellowpages.com/adver/101920p.html
Because some products containing glycolic acid DO advertise that they
can help keloids, they are safe to use, and not dangerous. However
reliable medical sites indicate that glycolic acid is not helpful
http://www.abateit.com/
I apologize for providing more effective solutions than glycolic acid
for keloids. However, glycolic acid, while not harmful, will not give
you the results you are seeking.
If you are still unhappy with this answer, please let me know, and I
will ask the editors to remove the answer, and you will not be
charged.
Regards, Crabcakes
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