Keloid Tattoo: 7 Tips for Prevention and Safe Healing

Acquiring a tattoo may carry certain health risks. The equipment used for creating its design can spread diseases that infiltrate skin tissue, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and hepatitis B.

Silicone gels or sheets may help flatten keloids by hydrating the skin and decreasing collagen production, while pressure therapy using bandages or compression clothing may also decrease their size.

What is a keloid?

Keloid scars are an abnormal type of scar that forms on the skin after trauma has been sustained to it, such as surgical wounds, burns, piercings or chickenpox.

Keloid tissue grows beyond the original area of injury to become red or pink in color and hard or rubbery in texture; painful, itchy or swollen symptoms may result from this.

A keloid can even alter how the skin moves and feels as well.

Keloids can be treated in several ways. You can use medicine to shrink scar tissue; corticosteroid injections are commonly prescribed, while verapamil, fluorouracil, bleomycin or interferon alfa-2b injections may also help.

Laser treatments or radiation therapy may also prove effective; such methods work best when combined with other treatments.

Before getting any tattoo or body piercing if you have a history of keloids, it’s wise to consult your physician first.

They can advise on which tattoo would best suit your skin type and any risks of infection or keloid formation as a result.

It is also wise to follow medical advice regarding injuries or wound care to reduce risk.

Likewise, prior to having any surgery it would be prudent to discuss it with them first if your situation could potentially result in more keloids forming.

How do keloids form?

Keloids form when an overly aggressive wound healing response leads to excessive collagen formation, leading to tissue overgrowth that extends beyond the original scar.

Keloids manifest themselves as firm, pruritic rubber nodules ranging in color from pink to dark brown that have an itchy surface and rubbery texture; typically found on the chest, shoulders, backs, and other flexible regions of the body such as earslobes or neck flexural regions.

Keloids differ from hypertrophic scars in that they don’t return within their original boundaries and often regress over time, while often reappearing after treatment has taken effect.

Keloids tend to be more common among people with darker skin tones and can run in families.

Although the exact cause of keloid development remains unknown, most experts agree that trauma plays an integral part.

This may involve minor skin injuries, burns, or surgery; or in rare instances, it may just form spontaneously without apparent reason.

In order to reduce the chances of keloid formation, it is vital to cover new wounds promptly with a thin layer of petroleum jelly like Vaseline and nonstick bandages – this will keep the area hydrated while decreasing collagen production.

In addition, body piercings or tattoos in areas prone to developing keloids should be avoided for their protection.

What are the symptoms of a keloid?

Keloid symptoms include pain, itching, redness, and an unusual raised appearance.

They may also cause pressure and tightness in the skin that limits movement around joints.

Though its cause remains unknown, keloid formation often follows trauma to the skin from surgery wounds, burns, piercings, or any other damage that results in scar tissue formation.

Even after surgical flattening or removal of a keloid scar, it is vital to continue caring for it properly in order to reduce further formation of another one.

In addition, corticosteroid cream may help soothe itching and inflammation associated with scar tissue.

Keloids can be treated in addition to proper wound care with medications such as steroids or anabolic agents prescribed by a physician, either alone or combined with other treatment strategies in order to decrease their likelihood of recurrence.

People at higher risk for developing keloids include those with type A blood, hyper-immunoglobulin E syndrome with a high risk of allergy, and hormonal peaks during puberty or pregnancy.

Keloid formation is also more prevalent among those who hail from Africa or Asia.

How can I treat a keloid?

If you develop a keloid scar, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroid injections to shrink scar tissue and ease its itching.

This treatment is most frequently employed on chest, shoulders, backs and earlobes but keloid scars may appear anywhere on your body and can be painful and uncomfortable.

Avoid further injury to the area until your keloid has fully healed, and follow your physician’s advice regarding wound care, such as compression dressings or bandages to maintain pressure against it.

They may also recommend corticosteroid cream to ease itching and inflammation.

Surgery might be required if other methods don’t prove successful in treating your keloids; however, surgery has a high rate of recurrence that could result in larger-than-before keloids emerging again after healing has stopped.

Silicone sheets or gel may help flatten keloid scars and make them less noticeable, while massage can break up scar tissue and encourage healing.

Topicals containing onion extract can reduce appearance and itching.

Finally, for maximum protection from sun exposure you should wear broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ protection; studies suggest applying vitamin E oil directly onto a keloid could even reduce its visibility while softening the scar.