Of all the locations where patients can develop a Keloid scar, the earlobe is often the most frustrating and anxiety producing!
Unfortunately, the earlobe is one of the most common areas patients develop keloid scarring. Thankfully there are options available to help improve the appearance of earlobe keloid scars.
Keloid scars commonly form after piercing and may develop in either the lobe or the cartilage of the ear. In some patients the trauma of piercing may set off the keloid development, while other patients may react to the type of metal an earring is made of. Whatever the cause, the keloid occurs when the body produces an overabundance of collagen! Collagen is a protein in the body which is important for wound healing and is a hallmark of youthful skin. In the keloid, however, the body continues producing collagen leading to the classic raised scar. In addition to being raised, a keloid may be darker than surrounding skin, and be painful or itchy. It’s important to remember that keloid formation is unpredictable. In many cases, patients may only develop a keloid on one side, despite having both ears pierced.
At ProFile MD we offer a free consultation to lay out your treatment options. If the keloid is relatively new and small, we can often use triamcinolone (Kenalog) injections to help flatten the scar. In other more extensive cases, Dr. Mallalieu may excise the scar completely. We also have lasers which can help prevent the keloid from returning.
