KELOID AND HYPERTROPHIC SCARS

At Dr. Jenny Clinic, we offer specialist, evidence-based treatments for the management of keloid and hypertrophic scars: these are scars which are thick and raised and which can become very uncomfortable, itchy, or cosmetically distressing.

Whether your scar formed after surgery, trauma, acne, or a piercing, our tailored treatment plans are designed to soften, flatten and relieve symptoms, while supporting optimal skin health.

What Are Keloid and Hypertrophic Scars?

Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process, but sometimes the body produces too much collagen, in a very haphazard and uncontrolled manner, resulting in raised or abnormal scars. It is as though these scars stay stuck in that early, inflamed phase of healing and fail to progress into the maturation phase of the scar-healing process where everything finally calms down.

Hypertrophic scars remain confined to the original wound site but appear thick, firm, red and elevated. Although they can take a long time to settle, hypertrophic scars do eventually respond and improve with treatments over time.

Keloid scars on the other hand grow uncontrollably, and far beyond the boundaries of the original injury, sometimes enlarging dramatically over time. The initial skin injury could be something small like a piercing, vaccination jab or a bad acne spot, however the scar response then ends up being far larger than the original skin injury.

These abnormal scars may also be painful, itchy, hypersensitive, or tight, particularly if located near a joint or on mobile skin. Redness and persistent inflammation are also common. Sadly, they can also become very unsightly and stigmatising for sufferers.

How We Treat Keloid and Hypertrophic Scars

We offer several treatment options based on your skin type, scar behaviour, and medical history. These may be used individually or in combination. As part of your consultation, Dr. Jenny will assess your specific scar pattern and recommend the best treatment for you. As an ethical medical clinic, if it is felt that you may need alternative treatments not offered by us then we will advise you accordingly, in order to ensure that you recieve the most suitable treatment.

Scar Massage and Silicone Applications

Although these are often dismissed as being too conservative to be effective, any scar treatment regime should always include these techniques. They are a simple means of supporting your scars as they naturally heal and they are a great adjunct to any in-clinic treatment you may receive.

Scar massage or pressure across a scar, as well as the application of silicone (in sheet and/or gel form) are evidenced-based means of improving firmness and sensitivity associated with abnormal scars, and we recommend it to all of our patients, either as a preventative tool for post-surgical scars or as a treament tool for already-established abnormal scars.

Steroid Injections for Raised Scars

Intralesional steroid injections (steroid injections directly into the lesion/scar) are one of the most established and effective treatments for thick, raised, or symptomatic scars.

A very small amount of steroid is injected directly into the scar using a fine needle, and this can help to:

• Soften and flatten the scar

• Reduce itchiness, pain, and inflammation

• Improve skin colour by reducing redness

• Decrease scar projection and size over time

Treatments are quick, with minimal downtime. You may feel some mild stinging during the injection and slight tenderness or itching for 1–2 days afterward. A small plaster is applied post-treatment and can be removed after a few hours.

For best results, a course of treatments spaced 4–6 weeks apart is often recommended, supported by techniques like silicone sheets and scar massage at home.

Risks of Steroid Injections

As with any medical procedure, risks are discussed during your consultation. While side effects are uncommon, they can include:

• Temporary redness, swelling or tenderness

• Skin thinning (atrophy) or fat loss under the skin

• Hypopigmentation (lightening of the scar)

• Tiny blood vessels becoming visible (telangiectasia)

• Ulceration (rare)

• Scar persistence or recurrence

We carefully assess your scar to ensure this treatment is suitable for you and that the benefits outweigh any potential risks.

Surgical Excision with Post-Operative Steroids

In select cases, we may recommend surgical removal of a keloid or hypertrophic scar, particularly if it is:

• Restricting movement

• Recurrently inflamed

• Resistant to other treatments

• Causing significant distress

Following excision, we administer steroid injections during the healing phase to reduce the risk of recurrence. However, it’s important to understand that keloid scars carry a very high recurrence rate, even after surgery, sometimes growing back larger than before.

It is because of this reason, that surgical excision is not a first-line treatment for keloids. It is reserved for carefully selected cases, and we will always explain the risks, alternatives, and expected outcomes clearly during your consultation.

We will always personalise your treatment plan to your skin, scar type, and medical needs. Click here if you would like to know more about the various means of treating abnormal scars.