Keloid Scars May Be Preventable

In 2005, I had malignant melanoma removed from my left posterior shoulder by a male physician's assistant. This deadly form of skin cancer was caught early, at Stage Zero, so all I needed was more skin removed, no life altering cancer treatments. Per protocol, I was put on the biopsy-go-round. He removed everything that looked suspicious over a series of months. No more cancer has been found to date. Due to insurance coverage, I've had two male physicians since the P.A. and am currently under the care of a lady dermatologist.

From the initial mole removal, and one next to it, I have two large, ugly purple keloid scars. The nerves were severed and regenerated. To this day I will randomly experience a surge of excruciating pain in those areas. It's less often now, sometimes months go by with nothing.

One of the male physicians injected one with cortisol to flatten it. Well, it flattened, but spread out so it's wider.

The lady doctor biopsied a mole on my anterior thigh last year and a tiny keloid developed. Grr... At least it's nothing like the ones on my back. When she biopsied a mole in the center of my chest last month, I lamented about not wanting another disfiguring keloid. She had the nurse add Kenalog to the numbing medication to prevent the keloid from forming. I was stunned. I had no idea they could be prevented. Why hadn't anyone told me? I went back for a six week follow up this morning, to have another steroid injection. It wasn't necessary, the area is healing nicely. She gave me topical steroid cream to use if it does become red/itchy. If it gets hard or changes in other ways, I'm to call her.

If you are prone to keloid scars, speak up the next time you are incised. An ounce of prevention is the best beauty treatment.