Keloid scars are bumps that are more than just regular scar tissue and can be caused by acne, burns, piercings, surgery, vaccinations, and even minor scrapes or cuts. These scars can be red or pink in color and are often rough or have excess wrinkled tissue. Keloid scars are not painful but can cause irritation from clothing or friction. People with darker skin tend to be more prone to keloid formation, but men and women can be affected equally. Surgical treatment for keloids is very expensive, so you should try these treatment steps at home before consulting your doctor.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Reducing Keloid Scar Forms at Home
Step 1. Keep skin clean and moisturized
Good skin care is important to treat any skin condition, and keloids are no exception. Keeping the skin clean and moisturized will promote skin rejuvenation---this means that the old skin that was scarred will peel off and be replaced with a newer, smoother layer underneath.
- Wash the scarred skin at least once a day (twice if it's on your face) with a gentle cleanser that doesn't contain dyes or perfumes. However, make sure not to over-wash it because it can make the skin dry and irritated.
- Apply moisturizer to the skin after cleansing to keep it moisturized. You can use a gentle store-bought moisturizer or apply natural oils like coconut or olive oil.
Step 2. Apply sun lotion every day to avoid damaging the skin
Scarred skin is very sensitive, making it prone to burning and hyperpigmentation caused by the harmful rays of the sun. That's why it's important to apply suntan lotion to keloid scars if you want to spend all day outdoors.
- Use a lotion with a high sun protection factor (SPF), which is 30 or more, and don't forget to apply it to your skin at least 30 minutes before going outside.
- The sun's rays can damage the skin, even if the weather is not hot or the sun is not shining outside. However, it is important to apply this sun lotion regardless of the weather conditions.
Step 3. Don't pluck the scar
If there is a small cut or scar on the skin, it can be very tempting to remove it. However, this is a bad practice because it often leads to infection and the formation of keloid scars.
- Try to leave the wound to prevent the formation of keloids and avoid touching the existing kelodi, as this can make the situation worse.
- If you leave a scar, then there is a possibility that the scar will disappear over time, without requiring medical assistance. If you leave a scar, then there is a possibility that the scar will disappear over time, without requiring medical assistance.
Step 4. Use an organic scar cream that contains onion extract
Recent research has shown promising data with a scar cream containing onion extract for reducing the height of scar tissue. This product will also work to help prevent scar tissue from forming if you apply it to a healing scar, which is feared to form keloids.
Step 5. Apply lemon juice to lighten scars
You can apply lemon juice to dark scars to lighten them. Vitamin C plays an important role in normal wound healing and the high concentration of vitamin C in lemon juice can help lighten scars. Use a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice and apply it directly to the scar. Allow the lemon juice to air dry and rinse with warm water. Repeat once a day.
- Be careful, leaving the skin smeared with lemon juice in the sun can cause bleaching.
- While most of the steps described later in this tutorial can be combined, don't try to mix lemon juice with other ingredients. If you want to use another method of treating the scar at the same time, rinse off the lemon juice and wait two to three hours beforehand.
Step 6. Use castor oil to break down scar tissue and detoxify the skin
Castor oil has the ability to penetrate deep into the skin and slowly decompose scar tissue. In healthy skin cells, castor oil helps improve circulation and eliminate toxins.
- To treat keloids, soak a clean washcloth in castor oil and place it over the keloid for one to two hours each day. Alternatively, you can rub castor oil directly on the keloid every day.
- You can also use castor oil to prevent keloid formation beforehand by applying the oil directly to cuts or scrapes of skin. This will promote better healing.
Step 7. Rub aloe vera on the scar to soften the tissue
Aloe vera has been shown to help reduce the shape of burn scars and you can also safely try it to reduce the shape of keloids. Aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory plant. Reducing inflammation, especially during the early stages of scar formation, is important for increasing the elasticity of new tissue.
Step 8. Place a tea bag over the scar
Researchers believe that green tea can reduce scars due to its antioxidant activity. Soak an organic green tea bag in warm water. Apply the tea bag directly over the scar 3-4 times a day for 10 or 15 minutes.
You can also soak a cotton towel in green tea, squeeze out the excess water, and place it over the scar 3 or 4 times a day for 10-15 minutes
Step 9. Try vitamins E and D
Vitamins E and D have been used to improve the shape of scars. Either way, open a vitamin liquid caplet, mix the contents with 4-5 drops of castor oil and rub the liquid on the skin scars 3-4 times a day.
- For vitamin E, use liquid caplets containing 400 IU.
- For vitamin D, use liquid caplets containing up to 2000 IU.
Step 10. Apply lavender oil
Lavender oil has traditional uses for helping reduce scars. Mix 2-3 drops of lavender oil with 2 tablespoons of castor oil and rub it on the scar. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
Step 11. Rub a mixture of St. plant essential oils. John's wort and castor oil on scars. St. John's wort promotes wound healing and has been used to reduce caesarean section scars. Mix 2-3 drops of this essential oil with 2 tablespoons of castor oil and rub this mixture on the wound. You can repeat this action 3-4 times a day.
Step 12. Use apple cider vinegar to reduce redness
Apple cider vinegar (not white vinegar) is usually recommended to help reduce the redness associated with keloid scars. Consistent use can also help reduce the size of the scar. Apply vinegar directly to the scar and allow it to air dry. Rinse the area with warm water after 5-10 minutes. You can repeat this process 3-4 times a day.
Step 13. Apply honey on the scar
Honey is a natural moisturizer that has been proven convincingly to reduce the size of keloids. Apply a thin layer of honey directly on the scar. Rub honey on the scar for 5 minutes. Leave it for an hour before rinsing it off.
- Manuka honey or tualang honey is usually recommended for medicinal use.
- You can cover the honey with a bandage to help prevent it from sticking to the clothes.
Step 14. Use radix arnebiae
This plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to reduce scars. Recent research has shown that this plant can reduce the number and function of scar-forming cells. To use radix arnebiae powder, mix half a teaspoon of the powder or a quarter teaspoon of this concentrate with 1-2 tablespoons of castor oil. Rub this mixture on the scar tissue once every 3-4 days.
You have to go to your local traditional Chinese healer to get this plant
Step 15. Try other methods
Most of these methods take several months to produce a significant difference in reducing the shape of keloid scars. You can try using several methods at once to help increase your chances of scarring.
If you prefer to use these methods all at once to find out their effectiveness, try them for at least 2-3 weeks. If nothing changes, switch to another method or consider consulting a doctor about medical procedures to remove keloids
Method 2 of 2: Visiting a Doctor
Step 1. Consult a doctor
If none of these natural ways can help reduce keloid scar tissue, then the next step is to consult a doctor for professional medical solutions.
Step 2. Ask about corticosteroid injections
The most common solution for small, new keloid scars is corticosteroid injections (intralesional triamcinolone acetonide), which reduces the synthesis of keloid scar tissue. Scars may react differently to this procedure, but on average the process requires 3-4 injections over a month.
Step 3. Ask about cryotherapy
Your doctor may suggest cryotherapy (tissue freezing) along with the injection method. Cryotherapy destroys the keloid tissue and helps trigger necrosis (death) of the keloid tissue to break down more quickly than corticosteroid injections alone. You can expect 3-6 cryotherapy sessions for a typical keloid scar.
Needle cryotherapy is the latest innovation to this technique that doctors may suggest. This special needle allows the doctor to inject liquid nitrogen into the tissue instead of applying it to the upper tissue. This technique can speed up the process
Step 4. Learn the 5-FU action
Another option commonly used in conjunction with corticosteroid injections is the action with 5-FU, which is a treatment to inhibit fibroblast cells (cells important in the healing process of wound tissue) by reducing keloids.
Step 5. Ask about laser therapy
Laser therapy is increasingly common in the treatment of keloid scars. Lasers are used to disentangle the capillaries that feed the keloid tissue and to alter the production of collagen in the area surrounding the tissue. Approximately 2-6 actions of laser therapy can improve the color, height, and texture of keloid scars.
Step 6. Learn about keloid excision
The doctor may also suggest excision (cutting) of the tissue, depending on the height and area of the keloid. This is usually only recommended for keloids that are more than a year old because the tissue often thins out on its own during this time. Excision of the keloid will result in a new wound that requires specific treatment to help avoid the potential for another keloid to form. Always follow the proper treatment instructions given by the surgeon to help heal the wound with maximum achievable results.
Tips
- Remember, natural ways to reduce the shape of keloids take time and patience.
- If the keloid is new and less bothersome, your doctor may suggest giving it time to lighten and flatten on its own.
- Keep the scar moist by applying an oil like castor oil with anti-inflammatory properties if you don't treat it the way you prefer.
- If the scar is on an area of the body that is covered by clothing, make sure the clothing is made of natural fibers and does not rub or irritate the keloid scar.
