What Is a Keloid? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Updated on November 14, 2025
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A keloid is a type of scar that appears as a raised, thickened area on your skin that results from the healing process after a wound. But it may appear from a month to over a year after the injury, so you might not even remember the original wound.
Often, the keloid is much larger than the original wound. This differs from a hypertrophic scar, which is also raised but remains within the wound’s boundaries.
Keloids can affect anyone. You may be more likely to get one if you have darker skin and are of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent.
Keloids rarely go away on their own, but various treatments can help. And they’re not contagious, so you don’t have to worry about spreading them to anyone else.
Here, find out how to recognize a keloid and what to do if you have one.
Signs and Symptoms of Keloids
You may have a keloid scar if you notice the following:
- Early Signs You may notice thickening and hardening of the skin in an area where an injury happened.
- Growth Rate Changes start to appear from a month to over a year after an injury. They tend to grow slowly (though some can grow faster), and they can keep growing for several years.
- Pain and Irritation You may experience itching, tenderness, pain, or a burning sensation while the keloid grows. If you have a keloid on a joint, like your elbow or knee, it may hurt when you move that joint. These symptoms usually go away once the keloid stops growing, but you may still feel discomfort if you put pressure on the scar.
- Color Keloids may match your skin color or be lighter or darker. They may appear red, pink, purple, or brown, depending on your skin color. Sun exposure may cause them to darken permanently.
- Shape and Size How a keloid looks can depend on its location on your skin. Many are round, oval, or oblong. Some keloids, such as those on your ear, neck, or abdomen, can hang from the skin. The scars can be small, like a pimple, or as large as a ball. But even if you have a keloid that looks a specific way in a certain area of your body, another person may have a keloid in the same area that looks totally different.
- Texture A keloid can feel hard and rubbery, soft and doughy, or somewhere in between. The skin of a keloid is often hairless. It may either look smooth and shiny or wrinkled.
- Number You can have any number of keloids.
- Location Keloids can occur anywhere on your body but are most common on your:
- Ears
- Shoulders
- Chest
- Back
- Abdomen
- Jaw
If you think you may have a keloid, consider contacting a dermatologist. They can advise you on managing them and preventing more from developing.
Causes and Risk Factors of Keloids
Scars typically appear soon after a wound heals, then fade over time. Keloid scars can develop if your body produces more collagen than it needs for healing.
Experts believe this happens when fibroblasts — cells found in your connective tissue that secrete collagen — overreact and produce high amounts of collagen and growth factor (a molecule that signals your cells to grow) during wound healing.
It’s not clear why this happens or why it affects only some people. Genetic factors may play a role, as keloids tend to run in families.
Keloids can appear on any skin type, but you’re more likely to get them if you have darker skin. The risk also appears to be higher during puberty and pregnancy.
In the United States, Black people between 10 and 30 years old are most likely to develop keloids.
Any type of skin injury that can cause a scar can lead to a keloid, including:
- Any type of cut
- Surgical wounds
- Acne
- Chickenpox
- Burns
- Piercings
- Tattoos
- Insect bites
- Vaccination shots
- Puncture wounds
- Inflammatory skin diseases, such as folliculitis
In rare cases, keloids can form on skin that hasn’t been injured. They are referred to as spontaneous keloids. These may, in fact, be due to an injury that was too small to notice. They could also result from a health condition that causes severe inflammation in the body or certain medications.
Experts are looking into the role that melanocytes might play in keloid development. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for darkening your skin, hair, and eyes.
Here are some reasons for looking at melanocytes:
- Keloids tend to appear in areas, such as the chest, that have more melanocytes.
- During the healing process, the body produces more melanocytes.
- Keloids are more common on darker skin, which have higher melanocyte levels than lighter skin.
Learning more about the role of melanin and melanocytes in keloid formation could lead to new treatment options, according to recent research.
How Are Keloids Diagnosed?
If you’re concerned about any changes to your skin, it’s best to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in skin concerns.
At your appointment, the dermatologist will:
- Ask about your personal and family medical history
- Ask about any previous or recent injuries
- Ask about symptoms, such as itching or burning
- Examine the size, shape, and other features of skin changes
- Do a skin biopsy to rule out other conditions, in some cases
Treatment and Medication Options for Keloids
Keloids don’t need treatment, but treating them can help if they’re affecting your comfort or quality of life.
A dermatologist can help you find the treatment that suits you best, depending on where the keloid is, how large it is, and other factors.
You’ll likely need to try more than one treatment type, such as steroid injections and cryotherapy.
Here are some of the options:
- Cryotherapy This involves freezing the keloid from the inside out. It works best on small keloids but may leave a light patch on darker skin.
- Steroid Injections These help shrink the keloid. You’ll need a series of injections, which work in 50 to 80 percent of cases. However, the keloid often returns after five years.
- Other Medications A dermatologist might recommend an injection of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapy medication that may help reduce keloid size. It may be combined with the steroid kenalog. Another option is topical imiquimod, an immune response modifier shown to be an effective treatment.
- Surgery A surgical procedure that involves cutting out the keloid can remove it, but almost all keloids removed this way grow back. You’ll likely need to combine surgery with other treatments to manage the keloid.
- Pressure Therapy This noninvasive treatment involves wearing a device, a dressing, or clothing that reduces blood flow to the area of the keloid by applying pressure to it. It aims to stop the keloid reforming after surgery but can be difficult to use.
- Silicone Gels and Patches These also help flatten keloids when they are forming or after surgery.
- Laser Therapy Laser therapy can reduce the size and lighten the color of a keloid. Dermatologists often do this with another treatment.
- Ligature This process involves tying a surgical thread around the keloid, which cuts off the blood supply until the keloid falls off.
- Superficial Radiation Therapy Targeted, low-dose radiation may prevent keloids from regrowing after another treatment, like surgery. However, this option can harm your skin and may lead to cancer later in life.
Complementary Therapies
Various products may help treat or prevent keloids, but there’s not enough evidence yet to show that they’re safe and effective.
In one study published in 2018, some researchers found evidence that the plant Centella asiatica may help stop keloids from forming. In the study, 129 people with a high risk of keloids took either a supplement containing a Centella extract or no supplement after abdominal or knee surgery.
In skin analysis tests, participants who took the supplement — two capsules of 22 milligrams daily from weeks 2 to 6 after surgery — had fewer signs of developing keloids than the group that did not take the supplement. There were no adverse effects.
According to recent research, some other plant extracts may also have properties that could help treat keloids, including:
- Allium cepa
- Aneilema keisak
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Camellia sinensis
- Galla chinensis
- Lycium chinense
- Physalis angulata
- Salvia miltiorrhiza
Experts also recognize the need for more options to help manage keloids and more research into natural therapies.
Prognosis and Duration of Keloids
Keloids are benign (noncancerous) growths. They can continue to grow for months or even years, though they eventually stop growing.
They rarely go away on their own. And though treatment can help manage keloids, they often grow back.
A dermatologist can prescribe a combination of therapies to help reduce the size of keloids and appearance and lower the risk of new keloids developing.
Prevention of Keloids
Here are some steps you can take to prevent keloids:
- Avoid getting piercings, tattoos, and cosmetic procedures.
- Keep a supply of silicone gel and hydrogel wound dressings so you can take preventive measures after an injury.
- Keep keloids or potential keloids out of the sun, or apply a broad-spectrum, waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
- Tell your doctor and dentist if you have a history of keloids. They can bear it in mind when planning treatment for other health conditions and advise on preventive therapy after treatment.
- Contact a dermatologist if you notice an area of skin thickening, as it could be an early sign of a keloid.
Complications of Keloids
Keloids won’t turn into cancer, and they’re not life-threatening. However, they can bring complications, such as:
- Restriction of movement as your skin hardens and becomes less elastic
- Bleeding and infection after an injury to the keloid area
- In some cases, difficulty wearing certain items, such as earrings, depending on the keloid’s location
- Feelings of embarrassment or low self-esteem due to how the keloid looks
Research and Statistics: Who Has Keloids?
You’re more likely to develop keloids if you:
- Have darker skin
- Have a personal or family history of keloids
- Have Rubinstein-Taybi or Goeminne syndrome, which are rare genetic disorders
- Are between age 10 and 30, though keloids can occur at any age
If you are prone to keloids, you’re more likely to get them during puberty and pregnancy.
If you have keloids and want to help scientists find new solutions for treating them, consider taking the Keloid Research Foundation survey and becoming a patient or advocate member of the foundation.
Black, Hispanic, and Asian Individuals and Keloids
Black, Asian, and Hispanic Americans in the United States are more likely to have keloids than white Americans.
Older statistics suggest between 4.5 and 16 percent of darker-skinned people develop keloids.
A more recent study looked at data from January 1, 2013, to March 18, 2022, on dermatology patients with and without keloids. Researchers found that a higher proportion of the patients with keloids were Black or Asian. Both groups also had larger keloids than white patients, and Black patients had keloids that were more often severe.
Experts agree that far more research is needed into why keloids develop, why they affect some people more than others, and how to treat them effectively.
There are also calls for more research to understand keloids and related conditions that are common among people of African ancestry.
This is especially urgent, given the historic neglect of the dermatological needs of people with darker skin.
Related Conditions to Keloids
Some skin conditions can resemble keloids. It’s best to get a medical diagnosis to ensure you get the right treatment.
Hypertrophic scars, for example, are also formed of excess scar tissue. However, unlike keloids, they:
- Develop within the boundaries of the original wound
- Show up within weeks of the wound, not months
- Tend to be smaller
- Have less association with darker skin
- Are less likely to relate to genetic factors
- Are more responsive to laser treatment
Dermatofibroma is another type of faulty scarring. It produces nodules or papules that are either the same color as or darker than the surrounding skin.
Like keloids, these are usually benign and may occur after a skin injury. Unlike keloids, no evidence suggests a connection to genetics. They are most common on the legs or upper arms.
The Takeaway
- Keloid scars form after an injury, when the body produces too much collagen and growth factor as part of the skin’s healing process.
- They may take several weeks or months to appear, and they may continue to grow over time.
- They’re not cancerous or contagious, but they don’t go away on their own. Various treatments, such as cryotherapy or surgery, can help manage them.
FAQ
Why do people get keloids?
Experts don’t know exactly why keloids form, but it happens when the body produces too much collagen and growth factor during wound healing. Genetics may play a role, making them more likely in people with a family history.
What do keloids look like?
Keloid scars are thick, irregular areas of skin. They may be smooth and shiny, and they may be discolored. Sunlight can also make them darker. They can range in size from a pimple to the size of a ball.
Do keloids go away?
Keloids rarely go away on their own. You can get treatment, such as cryotherapy or laser therapy, but they often come back.
Is a keloid serious?
Keloids aren’t cancerous, but they can affect your self-esteem and quality of life.
How can I remove a keloid at home?
You can’t remove a keloid at home, but a dermatologist can use a range of techniques to remove or minimize them.
Resources We Trust
- Mayo Clinic: Keloid Scar
- Cleveland Clinic: Keloid on Ear
- American Academy of Dermatology: Keloid Scars: Self-Care
- Keloid Research Foundation: Treatment Options
- NYU Langone Health: Medical Treatment for Scars and Keloids
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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- McGinty S et al. Keloid. StatPearls. July 17, 2023.
- Limandjaja GC et al. Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids: Overview of the Evidence and Practical Guide for Differentiating Between These Abnormal Scars. Experimental Dermatology. June 1, 2020.
- Ludmann P. Keloid Scars: Overview. American Academy of Dermatology. August 30, 2022.
- Ludmann P. Keloid Scars: Causes. American Academy of Dermatology. August 30, 2022.
- Keloid Scar. Cleveland Clinic. October 22, 2024.
- Stone WL et al. Physiology, Growth Factor. StatPearls. May 1, 2023.
- Shi X et al. Increased Melanin Induces Aberrant Keratinocyte − Melanocyte − Basal − Fibroblast Cell Communication and Fibrogenesis by Inducing Iron Overload and Ferroptosis Resistance in Keloids. Cell Communication and Signalling. March 18, 2025.
- Ludmann P. Keloid Scars: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Academy of Dermatology. January 26, 2023.
- Keloids Be Gone: The Powerful Impact of 5-FU and Kenalog Injections. The London Cosmetic Clinic. January 26, 2023.
- August 2022. Establishment of an Efficacious Treatment Period for Prophylaxis of Auricular Keloid Recurrence Postexcision Using Topical Imiquimod 5%: A Demonstrative Case Series. JAAD Case Reports. Chan LJ et al.
- Cotellese R et al. Centella asiatica (Centellicum®) Facilitates the Regular Healing of Surgical Scars in Subjects at High Risk of Keloids. Edizioni Minerva Medica. April 2018.
- Boo YC. Insights Into How Plant-Derived Extracts and Compounds Can Help in the Prevention and Treatment of Keloid Disease: Established and Emerging Therapeutic Targets. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. January 19, 2024.
- What Are Keloids? Northwestern Medicine.
- Ludmann P. Keloid Scars: Self-Care. American Academy of Dermatology. December 5, 2023.
- Kim J-W et al. A Case Report of Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome Presenting with Extensive Keloid Formation and Review of Literature. Annals of Dermatology. May 2023.
- Swenson A et al. Natural History of Keloids: A Sociodemographic Analysis Using Structured and Unstructured Data. Dermatology and Therapy. December 2023.
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- El-Kashlan N et al. Disparities in Dermatology: A Reflection. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. November 2022.
- Patient Information Leaflet: Dermatofibroma. British Association of Dermatologists. March 2023.
Meet Our Experts
Susan Bard, MD
Medical Reviewer
Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her professional interests include Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, and immunodermatology.
She is a procedural dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Bard has written numerous book chapters and articles for many prominent peer-reviewed journals, and authored the textbook The Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions.
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From 2015 to 2023, Yvette worked as a health information editor at Medical News Today and Healthline. Yvette is now a freelance writer and editor, preparing content for Everyday Health, Medical News Today, and other health information providers.