Question of the Week - Keloids
Sunday September 21, 2003
I actually received several questions about keloids this week, so there isn't one particular question to answer. I will try to address all of them here.
First of all, make sure you understand what a keloid is. Sometimes people get a blood or puss filled growth on a new piercing and mistake this for a keloid. It is not. Keloids are actual scar tissue that forms because the body over-defends itself as a result of trauma or surgical incisions. Keloids have to be removed with the help of medical treatment or surgery - you can't just wash them away. People with African-American descent tend to be more prone to keloids, although people of all ethnicities can be susceptible. Keloids also tend to be genetic.
If you are prone to keloiding, piercings are strongly urged against. Tattoos can also lead to keloiding, although piercings and surgical modifications seem to be the most likely culprits. There's no real limit as to where keloids can form, as they can also grow on the tongue and other mucus membranes. The only way to truly prevent keloiding is to not get the tattoo or piercing in the first place. If you decide to chance it, just be aware that you may end up with excessive scarring and/or keloids.
First of all, make sure you understand what a keloid is. Sometimes people get a blood or puss filled growth on a new piercing and mistake this for a keloid. It is not. Keloids are actual scar tissue that forms because the body over-defends itself as a result of trauma or surgical incisions. Keloids have to be removed with the help of medical treatment or surgery - you can't just wash them away. People with African-American descent tend to be more prone to keloids, although people of all ethnicities can be susceptible. Keloids also tend to be genetic.
If you are prone to keloiding, piercings are strongly urged against. Tattoos can also lead to keloiding, although piercings and surgical modifications seem to be the most likely culprits. There's no real limit as to where keloids can form, as they can also grow on the tongue and other mucus membranes. The only way to truly prevent keloiding is to not get the tattoo or piercing in the first place. If you decide to chance it, just be aware that you may end up with excessive scarring and/or keloids.
Comments
hi i have a scar tissue on my upper chest several doctor saw it and they all toll me that was a kiloid but is already 3 times that in the middle of my kiloid forms a little bubble stay like that for a day or 2 and then it explotes and blood witha litle of puss comes out can you please help me because now i’m so confuse i thought it was a kiloid now i dont know if is just and infection i dont know whant to think i got this kiloid with the removal of a cist.
I have a keloid on my chest. its about an inch long. I got it when i was 5 from scratching a chicken pox off. it was very small and then it grew bigger as i grew but has stopped like when i was 8 or 9. I tryed to get it removed but the doctors said theres a chance of it growing back and larger. but my question is that if i got a chest piece done would it cause my keloid to grow larger and/or would the ink spread under neath it?