6 June 2008 Updates:
- The Comments List has been updated (other possible methods). Please keep them coming!
END
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Keloid formation is a topic that desperately requires more medical research and attention.
What are Keloids?
Keloids are scars that have continued to grow past the size of the original wound. Some keloids occur on parts of the body that restrict movement. Some cause pain and itching.
They can afflict people of all races, but tend to occur most frequently across races with darker skin tones like Asians, Hispanics, Italians, and Blacks. Keloids also tend to be hereditary.
Why are Keloids so difficult to treat?
Often, keloids grow larger with further injury. Treatments like surgical excisions and lasers can cause keloids to grow even larger.
Keloid treatment is also tricky because results tend to vary across treatments. Treatments like corticosteroid injections have worked well for some people, but made some cases worse, and others to work initially, then rebound.
Some TCM (traditional chinese medicine) has also worked well for some, but not all.
Newly-formed keloids also respond better to treatments than old ones.
Because of this, I can’t recommend anything as being the “definitive treatment”.
Instead I have compiled a list of treatments that have been known to produce results for some. Thus, a combination of treatments may be the best answer.
1) Commercial Treatments that have been known to work:
Silicone dressing, Steroid injections, Hydrocortisone cream, Hei Ba Gao paste (TCM), Tea tree oil
A lot has already been written online about the above commercial treatments so I won’t go into further detail here.
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2) Home Remedies that may work:
1) Make a paste by mixing one part baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and one part 3% hydrogen peroxide. Apply directly on keloid, and reapply as necessary.
2) Apply apple cider vinegar on the keloid and let dry. Re-apply every half hour and do this for at least several hours. If ACV is too irritating, you can safely dilute it with water.
3) Make a thick paste by crushing aspirin and mixing it with water. Apply directly on keloid, and reapply as necessary.
4) Garlic oil or crushed garlic (use with utmost caution and wash off should you feel too much burning)
5) Potassium Iodide is another simple remedy that may work well on keloids. Apply it over the keloid several times a day until you see some flattening. Look for SSKI (Saturated Solution Potassium Iodide) at health food stores and pharmacies. If you cannot obtain SSKI or have difficulty doing so, a weaker substitute can be found in Lugol’s Solution. Lugol’s Solution is a simple mixture of potassium iodide, iodine, and water and can be bought at most aquarium/pet fish stores.
There are also claims that topical iodine application (usually used as an antiseptic on cuts and wounds) can minimize scar formation. Iodine has the ability to trigger natural cell death (or apoptosis). Thus, repeat applications of iodine on a lesion causes it to be replaced by new skin.
I recommend reading Dr. David Derry’s article for more about this. In it, he says, “From my own clinical experience, repeated application of iodine to the skin appears to cause regeneration of the skin from the bottom up (stem cell) — eventually sloughing the old version of the skin off like a snake molting. If there was a pre-cancerous lesion on the old skin, it is replaced with new skin minus the lesion. There does not seem to be any skin lesions which are not helped or cured by this procedure.”
Here is another case study (pdf) of a housewife who was treated with Iodex (an iodine salve). She had an 8cm-long scar which restricted the movement of her toe. After 6 months of using Iodex, she regained a normal range of motion.
How the Home Remedies help keloids: Treating the infection
The home remedies above are based on the belief that keloids form because there was an infection (either bacterial or fungal) left behind when the wound was first created.
Because the infection remained, the body creates excess scar tissue in response to the irritant. This effectively “encases” the problem infection by blocking it off from the rest of the body.
With the thickened scar tissue in place, blood circulation in the keloid becomes much more hindered. This makes it even harder for the body to slowly dissolve the scar on its own - so the keloid remains indefinitely.
And since the root of the infection remains buried underneath, the keloid remains volatile and will continue to produce more tissue should it encounter further damage or injury along the way.
Thus, treating the infection is the crux of the matter when it comes to the home remedy methods.
To jump-start the breaking down of your keloids, try fasting. Fasting has numerous health benefits, and I encourage you to read up more on the subject. Fasting can help because without food, your body will scavenge for dead and diseased cells and burn them up for energy. These includes excess collagen and abnormal cells like keloids and hypertrophic scars.
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Over time, this page has gotten a long list of comments. Some of these comments had valuable information in them, but I feared that they might also be overlooked by most visitors.
So I decided to create a “linked list” of the more significant comments according to topic.
I will update this list periodically as more comments come in.
Thank You to all the commenters for sharing!
List of Selected Comments
[TIP: For easy navigation, click on the link to read comment, followed by the Back button on your browser to return to the list.]
1. When a Keloid might not be a Keloid
- Piercing-related bump
- Hypertrophic/raised scars
- Cyst / Skin infection Amy, Mel (Mel also later reported that ACV successfully removed a growing bump on her ear)
2. Keloids that spread / recurring infections
Marie first shared about her keloids that would get better then “return with a vengence”. Her steroid injections were not helpful and antibiotics didn’t work. Marie later kindly commented again to report that her recurring infections has stopped after using ACV twice a day. The keloid remains but there has been a “slight flattening” to it. It is also less red and itchy.
3. Surgery-related scarring and internal keloids
4. Can tattoos lead to keloids?
Merlin asked if tattoos can lead to keloids. (Answer: Yes, they can)
Sadly, Alek mentioned his own experience post-tattoo. If anyone has experience with tattoo scarring/healing, please share any insights you have.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar can lead to irritation (or using Iodine as a substitute / dilute the ACV with water)
Ian, Michelle, Chris* (Chris had success in that the keloid “dried out”, but the ACV was irritating), Felix (Felix also talks about how his keloid tends to act up in winter)
6. Special Precautions on using Garlic
7. Keloid formation linked to Iodine Deficiency in diet
8. Why most home remedies are not sold commercially by pharmaceutical companies
Nowayz* (Nowayz also later reported success in the drying of his keloid here.)
9. Itching and pain associated with keloids (and when first using the remedies)
Emma, Jack, Jules* (Jules also kindly reported back later that her “sharp pains and itching have mainly disappeared” by using ACV.)
Sharon Brown reported that while putting ACV on her keloid was painful, she found the vinegar was “dissolving” the keloid. After a week, it was half the original size.
10. Remaining scar tissue after successful keloid treatment (or my personal recommendation to read up on skin remodeling copper peptides)
11. Other possible methods/remedies mentioned by commenters
- Cutting off the blood circulation to the keloid by tying it off with a string
- Contratubex gel (from Germany)
- Healthier diet (more fruits and veggies)
Sarah noticed a “big difference” to the size of her keloids while some had lightened following a change in her diet. Specifically, she drank 3-4 cups of green tea with lemon, pomegranates (health benefits in wikipedia) and also increased her intake of fruit and vegetables for a few months before she noticed the improvements.
Thanks for sharing, Sarah! If anyone else had improvements to their keloids following a change in diet, pls do share.
- Silicea
Irene’s father had a keloid that was infected with pus that wasn’t helped by steroid injections or antibiotics. However, Silicea (biochemical tissue salts) applied on the keloid for a few months prompted the discharge of pus for a few weeks. After successful drainage, the problem did not recur and the keloid flattened.
does sea salt help flatten keloids?
Hi toya, I’m not sure if sea salt will penetrate deeply enough to affect the keloid. But sea salt is naturally anti-bacterial by itself, so you could give it a try and see what happens. It shouldn’t do any harm at least.
what would aspercreme do for the treatment of keloids concerning piercings? would it be the same as using the aspirin paste?
I’m not very familiar with aspercreme but from what I gather, its a topical pain-reliever that uses ‘trolamine salicylate’ as its active ingredient.
Thus both aspirin and aspercreme contains salicylates, just in different forms. However, I haven’t found any reference (yet) that the kind found in aspercreme is helpful for treating infections. But it might make you more comfortable if the keloid is painful.
p.s: If you do try aspercreme on a keloid, do make sure that you have no open wounds or cuts on the area.
Hi I was just wondering if there was a certain treatment that you would prefer. Me and my friend both got nose peircings and we both have keloids. They are small but seem to be getting larger as time passes. We are currantly cleaning with anitbacterial soap and sea salt water. We are worried that these could get out of hand. I have had one before on my tragus peircing but it went away with in days. So we just want some reccomendation on what is best to use in our situation. Thank you for your time.
Hi Amanda, if you haven’t already done so, you need to lose the studs. Having them in your flesh will only irritate the keloid further.
I recommend dabbing apple cider vinegar on and around your keloid several times a day first. (If it stings too much, dilute the ACV with water. If you go to work or school, transfer the ACV to a small bottle so you can continue to reapply throughout the day. Avoid applying make-up or sunscreen to the area if you can. )
You’ll have to put up with the slight smell but ACV will work much better than anti-bacterial soap because it attacks bacteria, fungi, and some viruses.
I recommend ACV first because its cheap, effective, easily available in most grocery stores, and you and your friend might even already have it at home.
Try the ACV remedy for one week, and if there’s no improvement, then try garlic oil or tea tree oil.
well there new so does that mean anything……
If the keloids are new, they’ll respond better and faster to treatment. The sea salt soak that you are doing may work well on them too.
I just got a double eye brow piercing 2 months ago, within the last 2 days i noticed something that might be a keloid. up until now there has been minimal irritation and i was cleaning it daily. not sure why one would appear now. What’s the best approach for me to take with controlling and possibly ridding myself of it completely?
Since you got your piercing 2 months ago and had minimal irritation, its possible that its not a keloid but an infected bump due to a stray hair or some other irritant. It might have happened when you were changing or cleaning your stud. If you’ve recently changed to a new stud, revert back to the old one if possible.
If the bump is filled with fluid/pus, try using warm compresses of sea salt-soaked cotton buds to help drain it. The heat from the towel will speed up the healing and the sea salt can help with the draining of the liquid. Before bed, dab a little raw sea salt over the bump. You can use a paste of baking soda also. Both will help dry out the liquid as you sleep. Just make sure there’s no open wound before you do this. Do this for two weeks at least, or until the bump is no more.
If the bump is not filled with fluid/pus, is hard to the touch, and continues to grow larger over time, then treat it as a keloid with ACV, garlic oil, or the other remedies.
Best of luck, Chris!
Seems to be fairly soft to the touch, it has a bit of give when pressed lightly, it seems possible that it does contain fluids. Thank you very much for the info!
I have had this keloid for several years. I once removed it myself but the result was it grew back again. It started in 1997. How can I get rid of it and make it stay away for good.
You’re welcome, Chris
Hi Poppy, when you said you removed the keloid yourself before, how did you do it? Was it surgery or some other method? If the keloid rebounded, its possibly because the infection underneath wasn’t fully eradicated.
To prevent rebounding, you might have to continue treatment with a good anti-bacterial (like ACV) even after the keloid has flattened, for at least a few months and longer if possible. There might be some deeply buried scar tissue under the keloid thats causing the problems to recur. Normal skin will just grow over scar tissue so its often not evident.
Samantha thank you so much for the advise. It is working great they are half there size. Thank you
That’s great, Amanda.
And thanks for the update!
Hi Samantha, I’ve just found out of your site to heal keloids. It has been about a month that I’ve have a keloid on my tragus from a piercing I believe I did not clean well. Another keloid started to grow on the other side of the original keloid, so it was in my ear. Two days ago, the inside keloid “popped” blood, and so blood drained out and that keloid, since then, has significantly decreased in size. However, when I checked my original keloid, it had gotten slightly bigger. Can you tell me why it grew and what I can do to treat it?
Sorry, but I forgot to add that I was using Vitamin E on both the keloids, and the original keloid gradually got smaller until this incident. The inner keloid popped when I happened to be slathering Vitamin E on it.
Hi Karen, what you have doesn’t sound like a keloid. I could be wrong, but I suspect its not a keloid because you said that you’ve had success with shrinking the original bump with Vit E. (True keloids are extremely resistant to treatment and Vitamin E just won’t cut it in most cases.)
About why one of the bumps got bigger, its likely the two bumps on your tragus are actually connected (there’s not much room for them not to be). So when the inner one burst, a bit of Vitamin E cream probably got into the wound and irritated it, and this made the the outer bump enlarge in response.
You should forgo the Vitamin E for a while, at least until after the wound has scabbed over properly. Vit E will keep the skin too moist and slow down healing. Also, chemicals in the cream might irritate the wound. (You can use it sparingly once the wound scabs, and a little bit is just as effective as a lot.)
I’d recommend doing a sea salt soak every few hours, letting it dry naturally, and repeating the process. This will gently dry out the bumps, and keep the area clean without involving too many chemicals and preservatives into the mix.
When the area has toughened up a bit and the scab has peeled on its own, you could step up the routine by dabbing a bit of Apple Cider Vinegar on the bumps. This should heal the infections more quickly. (Use ACV diluted with water, but if the sting isn’t too much, dab it on straight.)
Best of luck!
Thanks for the fast response! I originally thought my bump was a keloid because it is hard and firm to the touch, but now that I think about why my other keloid popped…
Sorry for more questions, but keloids can’t pop, can they?
Nope, keloids can’t pop or burst with pressure because they’re made of thick scar tissue.
My bump shrunk to half its size with the soaking!
However, the bump on the inside of my ear is slowly growing back.
hi Sam,
i’ve been havin keloids prob since 2004 and it doesn’t get any better. went to a local pharmacy and they suggested ‘Topical Gel’ - not sure whether you’re familiar with it thou. These keloids I have, I assume spawned from my previous acne problem. Anyways, I wana try your ACV method and see how it goes. Thx
Hi Zach, best of luck and let me know if there’s any progress (or none) with ACV.
If your skin can take it (i.e. doesn’t burn or sting at all with ACV) it might also help to tape an ACV-soaked piece of cotton ball to the keloid while you’re sleeping.
Hey sam,
i had the top of my ear pierced for like four years now
and it had a small keloid at the time, i didnt pay much attention to it because it wasnt growing so i left in the earring and let it go about its business,but back in january i became pregnant and the keliod appear to have grown more around the end of my pregnancy which was in august it appeard to get bigger
but it grow over the front of the earring so now i cant get it out so now im left with two keloids so i wanted to know what you think would work best on shrinking it down enough for me to get the earring out or would surgery be best at this point
Hi Kacey F, apply warm sea-salt soaks to the area several times a day with a cotton ball/clean tissue. At night before going to bed, dab some Apple Cider Vinegar on and around the area. Dilute the ACV with water if it stings. (If you’re outside during the day and doing the sea-salt soaks is too inconvenient, you can substitute them with regular applications of ACV. )
Keep this up everyday for at least a week (two weeks is better if you can keep it up) and the bump should lessen slightly.
When it has lessened, apply some tea tree oil to the hole to lubricate it (tea tree oil will also protect the area from re-infection) and see if there’s some “give”. If there is, you can try to gently maneuver the earring out.
If there is no “give” and the earring is still firmly lodged, do see a doctor. He/she should be able to extract it for you easily after numbing the area first.
Best of luck and do keep me updated!
Hi, i just got my tongue re-pierced about 5 days ago and i have a small bump next to my piercing. i went back to the place where i got it done and they said it could be a keloid or it could be just that the site of my previous piercing got irritated because of the new one.
What can i use to shrink the size of this bump if its a keloid on my tongue??
Hi Paulina, the conventional wisdom for a growth on the tongue is that a crushed paste of aspirin mixed with a little water applied on the bump will slowly heal the infection and shrink the bump.
If aspirin doesn’t work, you can substitute it with a turmeric powder paste. Turmeric is safe, edible, and a powerful anti-bacterial.
If the bump does not dissipate or continues to grow, I urge you to see a doctor.
hi there, I have a keloid right in the middle of my chest - I’ve had it for about 7 years and is slowly growing. At the moment its 3cm long, hard, raised and red. I guess it’s not doing any damage, but it looks really ugly in whatever I wear…..not doing much for the decollatage! Any tips to lessen it?
hi there! I’ve had a kelod scar on my left shoulder for over10 years now and i thought i had tried everything… but i am trying this peroxide / baking soda paste and i wanted to know how long to leave it on for? do u wipe it off?
Hi Dina, there’s no best method for treating keloids. But in terms of its sheer convenience, ease of use, and price, I would suggest that you first try ACV for one week. If there’s no change, then move on to the other remedies.
Hi Cheryl, you should leave the paste on for as long as possible (at least a few hours at a time). When it dries, reapply the paste. You can put a plaster over it at night so it stays on your shoulder. Keep this up for a week and observe if there’s any flattening. If there’s no change at all, then you know that this method is ineffective for your keloid, and you can try other remedies like ACV or garlic oil.
HI SAM,
I had gotten my tragus pierced back in June and i began to notice a bump at first on the front now there’s one on the back maybe like in the end of July. Ive talked to several piercers and im getting different advice, like one says use sea salt another says dont use it then another tells me to use the asprin method. Well when i tried the sea salt for maybe like 2 weeks nothing happens and i was using hydrogen peroxide which did make the bump in my ear go down in size but its not doing much to the one on the outside. So right now im using the asprin but it seem like it could be working on the one in my ear rather than the one on the outside(this one seems to cause the most trouble) i’m very desperate what do you suggest?
Hi Samantha,
I also have a keloid on my chest and it’s been there for some years now, which probably started due to acne. I recently purchased the Hei Ba Gao paste and have tried it for the past two days, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Do you think the home remedies will fair better than the Hei Ba Gao?
Thanks so much!
Hi Ashley, your keloid has already shown some results with hydrogen peroxide, which is good news. The key is to remain persistent. The infection will be deeply buried underneath the skin and tissue so it will take time to eradicate it completely. You can also try ACV (it has similar properties as hydrogen peroxide) and see if you can get better results. Leave it on overnight so it can penetrate deeper (use an ACV-soaked piece of tissue and tape it over your lobe).
Hi Michelle, its impossible to tell whether hei ba gao is useful for your keloid after only 2 days. The people who have had their keloid mass shrink from HBG saw results over a period of several months of consistent use. Usually the centre part of the keloid will flatten first.
Since you’ve already purchased the black paste, my advice is to at least finish the jar. You can use one of the home remedies like ACV on the opposite end of the day, but keep your treatment routine simple. The simpler it is, the easier it is to stick to.
Hi Samantha,
I strongly believe I have keloids for the past 5 years. I did surgery to remove fribroids and a year after my surgery, I started to develop this swelling which became very painful especially during my menstrual cycle. Over the past years, it has become very hard and it’s only on one side of the cut that I have it. I don’t know what to do, I have tried taking pain killers, but they don’t seem to work. Could you advise me as to what to do or use, since this is internal and not external. And another questions is could Keloids develop with Tattoos, as I am contemplating of getting one done. I anxiously await your quick response, as I cannot bear this pain anymore.
Hi Merlin
I’m sorry to hear about your pain. Just to clarify, you suspect that you have a keloid inside you? Does it also appear on the surgical scar outside?
It might be a good idea to get a scan done so that you know for sure what it is. Uterine fibroids that have been surgically removed can come back so it may not be a keloid. I also urge you to tell your surgeon about what you’re experiencing as they might have encountered women with the same post-surgery complaints as you and will know the best course of action.
If it is a recurring fibroid and you want to avoid surgery again, there have been reports of women reducing their painful cramps and fibroids by taking blackstrap molasses everyday.
But if it is an internal keloid, you might want to consider trying certain foods that can cleanse your body internally. Powerful cleansers include turmeric and apple cider vinegar. Take a few capfuls of ACV in water every day. Do this for a few weeks and see if there is any difference.
And yes, tattoos can cause keloids if you’re prone to getting them. If you do decide to get a tattoo, be sure to take extra precautions to avoid infection during the critical healing period. Keloid formation is also tied to iodine deficiency, so its a good idea to take iodine supplements prior to getting the tattoo and for some time after.
Do let me know how you’re getting on. And if you’d like to contact me privately you can drop me an email using the contact form.
Hi Samantha,
Thank you for your speedy response. In fact, I have spoken to my surgeon, but he can’t say what it is xcept that it is adhesions or scarring caused by the surgery. But just to note the symptoms that is associated with the keloids is what I am experiencing. Actually at times it becomes very itchy after the pain subsides, and the fact that I am very sensitive to chloride. There is no keloids on the outer skin, actually there is a flat dark brown line that goes straight across the surgical area. Although I have some very small fibroids, there are none in that particular area, and actually that swelling is on the side that insertion took place. I was thinking about getting a heat treatment done. Do you think it will help much. Thanks once again.
Hi Merlin, I’ve just replied to your email. I’ll be interested to know the results of your iodine patch test.
A mild heat treatment can help relieve some pain in the area if its muscle related.
Hi Samantha,
Just a bit more info, I’ve had steroid injections on my chest once a month, which I did a few years ago. These injections lasted for about one year. I stopped getting these injections because I didn’t see any results or it would worsen. The keloid would flatten, but within a few weeks again, it would rise again and would spread. I’m still currently using the mepiform (silicon gel sheets) when I’m not using the black paste. Do you think the ACV would be better than the mepiform?
Thanks again for your help!!! I really appreciate this!
Hi Michelle, yes do try the ACV method. If steroids did not work for you at all, its a strong sign that there is an infection deep within the keloid that keeps recurring and regrowing the scar.
Silicon gel sheets does work for some hypertrophic scars, but in your case since we’re assuming there is an underlying infection, you can forgo them. Try the ACV consistently for one week (when you’re not using HBG) and see if there are any results. If none are seen, try the hydrogen peroxide + baking soda method next.
p.s: Btw, do monitor your skin when using HBG followed by ACV. HBG can cause some redness or sensitivity if overused, and if you apply ACV over the skin too soon it will lead to some stinging.
Hi Samantha,
Firstly thanks for your generosity in hosting this site, the comments and advise are genuinely useful and reassuring. I have a keloid on the back of my neck that developed following an infected spot, which appears to be slowly increasing in size. I tried using ACV and following your advise to another person applied it overnight to the affected area soaked into cotton wool. Unfortunately this resulted in a slight “burning” of the surrounding skin, leaving it very inflamed and dry. I am keen to persist with ACV as having reviewed the comments on your site it does appear to have worked for some people. Any advice on what may have happened to cause the reaction?
Many Thanks
I have a keloid on my arm from child vaccination that I’ve had for years 3″x1/2″. I’m now getting one on my chest now where I sometimes breakout as there’s an itchy sore spot that has not healed for a month or more now. I will try the ACV on it in hopes of getting rid of it on the onset. Also.. I went to an eye doctor yesterday about cataract surgery and he said I have a nodule on on eye. Could this be another keloid? If I have eye surgery to replace my lens can I develop a keloid on my eye from this or do they not grow on your eyeball? What is good to do or use to prevent these?I get lots of skin moles, cold sores and other skin irritations etc. - fearful of more keloids.
Hi Ian, sorry to hear about the burning. ACV can sometimes do that as it is acidic. The skin on the neck also tends to be more sensitive than other areas on the body so do take extra care.
For now, I hope you have stopped the ACV application until your skin recovers. When it does you can resume dabbing on a little during the day (and letting it dry naturally), but forgo leaving it on overnight as this is too harsh. To be safe, you can also protect your surrounding skin from any ACV “spillover” with some vaseline during the day.
If light application of ACV still causes problems, you can consider iodine as a substitute in the future. Iodine has the same properties as ACV (anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-virus) but its gentler on the skin and should not cause redness with overuse, even on the surrounding normal skin.
Results with iodine might take longer to achieve than ACV but in your case it might be the best solution. The only thing to be mindful of is staining your clothes/pillowcase as it can get messy. You can find brown iodine in most pharmacies quite cheaply and its usually packaged as an antiseptic.
What do you mean by using caution on pressed garlic or garlic oil? Is some burning ok?
Hi Terri, I have not heard of keloids forming on corneal tissue before, but I suggest you share your worries with your eye doctor to be safe. Hopefully he can alleviate your concerns.
I already mentioned this in an earlier comment, but I think its worth repeating.
Keloid formation is tied to iodine deficiency.
If you find that you’re prone to getting keloids, your body might be lacking in the mineral iodine. You can check with a very simple patch test - paint a circle of brown iodine over an area of your skin, like your inner arm or stomach. If the color disappears in less than 24 hours (i.e. your skin sucks it up), you’re iodine deficient.
Thus, its a good idea to get your iodine levels to a healthy point again prior to any surgery (or any type of skin injury for that matter) to prevent new keloids from forming. One way to do this is by painting your skin with iodine each day until you find that the color stays on the skin for 24 hours and longer.
(2nd question) Raw garlic on the skin can be extremely harsh and needs to be monitored carefully. Some mild stinging localised on the keloid is okay and can be expected, but overuse easily injures the surrounding skin and the keloid itself (can lead to bleeding if left on too long, its that powerful).
If you do use garlic, protect the healthy skin around the keloid with a layer of vaseline or other skin oil. Its also best to take it very slow in the beginning so you’re able to understand its strength and effects first.
Hope this helps.
hello,
i had serious acne prob 3 years ago,and now i developed keloids on my face, the jaw area.
i had been giving injections for months,and my left side keloids seems to grow smaller, but the right side keeps grow small and big again, somehow will expand….
what should i do?
does ACV truely helps?
why i surf so many webs but none of professionals said dat can use ACV?
im realli desperate tto remove it coz its on my face!
tq
Hi,
First off, You are very generous with your input on this site! I have had this keloid on my chest for about 3 years now. It started out as a pimple I think. I was foolish and tried to pop it with a pin(no puss came out..). Over the years it gradually got bigger. Now it’s about the size of a quarter. Two months ago I started receiving intralesional injections of steroids. It has greatly reduced the thickness of it. It is almost flat except in one spot. Thus far I have received two injections spaced with one month in between(next one is set for two months after my last). Like I said, it has flattened but it seems to be spreading sideways, It’s harda to tell though. Is it possible that the injections are making it bigger? Or should the injections stop it from getting bigger? Aside from that, how does sun exposure affect keloids and keloid development?? I also have noticed possible smaller keloids forming. What is the best treatment for new keloids, in your opinion?
After reading the many posts on here, I’m going to try out the apple cider vinegar. I’ll let you know what happens. Sorry for the many questions, but I have one more. I noticed this bump behind my earlobe about a month and a half ago. Shortly after I first noticed it, I was receiving a routine physical and I asked the nurse what she thought it was. She said It was like a pimple almost like a cyst. What do you think, I can’t see it obviously. But it is firm and about the size of a peanut.
Your input will be greatly appreciated!!
Thx Again,
-Pete
Hi nowayz, there’s no guarantee that ACV will help every keloid. Something that can work for some people may not work for others. If ACV does not have any flattening effect after 1-2 weeks, you should move to the other remedies.
And to answer your other question, you won’t find home remedies being promoted by pharmaceutical companies even if they work because these natural ingredients cannot be patented. No patent=No massive profits to be made.
Hi Pete,
1) I’m not sure why a steroid injection will widen a keloid. Its possible that the keloid was actually larger beneath the skin and you are just now able to see its base (sort of like how the base of an iceberg is much larger than the visible tip above the water). You should consult with your doctor to confirm.
2) If a keloid is red, inflamed, or sensitive, sun exposure can darken it just like other wounds, and sometimes the darkening is irreversible. But a stable keloid should not be harmed by sun exposure.
3) New keloids should respond faster to treatment. You can also be more gentle. If ACV is too harsh, try topical brown iodine over newly formed keloids. Iodine has the same antibacterial, antifungal, and antivirus properties as ACV but is much gentler on the skin and will not cause redness.
4) Abt the bump behind your earlobe, did you have a recent piercing done?
should i keep earing out of the ear when treating the keloid
hi
samantha,
i just want to know if these treatments realy works.
Hi Samantha,
Thank you for you advice regarding the ACV. I recently tried ACV as well as the Hei Ba Gao, and I noticed that the keloid is softening, but not flattening quite yet. However, once I started the ACV, I noticed a few small scabs on the keloid, which also tend to bleed slightly. Is this normal?
i have read all your home remedies on helping keloid i have them too on my chest lower obdomen and tummy the one on my tummy keep growing after surgeryi am now trying the ACV and baking soda also the honey and castro oil i hope it work if it dose not work what else can i try .
I have had a keloid in the middle of my chest for approx. 30 years. I was accidentally burned in that area with a cigarette when I was a child. When I was younger I received some type of injections to the area. It did seem to flatten but it is still there.
Is is too late to treat my keloid? If not, what do you suggest?
Hi Cameron, unless you’re able to keep the piercing & earring clean each day, it might be easier to remove the earring. You need to use your judgement too, for example is the earring at risk of being jostled or moved about, and will this enlarge your keloid further? However, if you remove the earring, your hole might close up also.
Cameron + Maria allen, there’s no way to tell if any method will work unless you try them yourself. Patience and consistency is also important as tough scar tissue presents a barrier to reaching the sometimes deeply-buried infection.
Hi Michelle, you might have to lay off the ACV for a while or at least dilute it with some water. HBG will make your skin more sensitive and ACV is already quite acidic on its own.
Hi Linda, yes even very old keloids can show improvement. Your keloid might have naturally softened on its own over the years and could be closer to a raised or hypertrophic scar. Even so, you can still try the home remedies and see if any more flattening can be achieved.
About the bump behind my ear, no I didn’t receive a piercing. Been using acv and it definitely subsided. Thank you for all your help! -Pete
i had been using acv for 3 days but nothing happen,shud i continue?
hi, Samantha
my keloids are in the chest, and they often itch. My keloids are caused by acne and pressed strongly by the nurse to let the thing in the acne out, but she did not succeed. So the keloids grow with the thing in the acne. Do you think that I should take the thing out of the keloid with a surgery? Because injection just fltten one of the 4 keloids, the other 3 big one itch and ache.
What should I do now? and I am a Chinese.
Hi nowayz, yes do use the remedies for at least one week (two if possible). If you see absolutely no change, then you should move on to another method. If the acidic method (ACV) has no effect on your keloid, try the alkaline method (baking soda + hydrogen peroxide).
Hi emma, have you tried any of the remedies yet? The itching comes from the infection and it might be worth it to try and wipe out the infection topically first before you try surgery. When you first start trying the remedies, the itching might become worse temporarily but will improve after a few weeks. You might also want to consider Hei Ba Gao. The paste is also effective in reducing the itching over time.
Surgery is certainly an option but it comes with risk if the wound is not completely sterile and closes up again. Also if you’re prone to getting keloids, make sure you have enough iodine in your diet to minimize the chances of getting keloids post-surgery.
Hi Samantha,
I have been having keloids for the last 4 years on my chest, shoulders and on my upper back. i could not find ACV here (in INDIA). so i have started using baking soda + 6% hydrogen peroxide(because i could not get 3% hydrogen peroxide). when i apply, i feel itching and little burning sensation. Does it mean that they are responding well. i have been using it since 15th Nov ‘2007.
Hi Jack,
Yes the itching is normal and can be looked at as a sign that its working on your keloid’s infection. I think most people would find a standard 3% hydrogen peroxide solution available in the pharmacies but if you have luck with the stronger 6% solution, that’s great. Do watch out for the burning though, and if there’s unusual redness/irritation it might be good to dilute it a bit with water.
Do keep us updated with your results. I think most people are using ACV so it will be very interesting and helpful to hear how you get on with the alkaline remedy.
Hi. How can you tell if it’s a keloid vs a hypertrophic scar? I have a scar that formed on my nostril after a scratch and the scar itself wont heal. It’s not a scab that forms, but it seems like overgrowth of flesh colored skin that can be picked off like a scab. On the occasions that it is picked off, there’s a small area that looks like an unhealed cut. The skin under the “scab” forms a small bump and it’s the same color as the rest of the skin. The only time it seemed to shrink was in the hospital when I was on IV steroids. Would your recommended treatments possibly work? Would a steroid cream work?
Hi faye, from what you’ve described, it doesn’t sound like a keloid. Keloids generally can’t be “picked off”. If the bump is an infection of either a hair follicle or oil gland in the nostril, then the remedies may make a difference. Logically, you should get faster results if you apply one of the remedies after its been picked off since there will be less of a barrier to penetrate the skin.
A steroid cream could help with inflammation but its use should be restricted to light applications for a short period only, especially since the skin in the nostril is already quite thin and sensitive.
HEY, IT REALLI WORTKS…MY KELOIDS ARE GETTING SMALLER DAY BY DAY AND IT WILL DRY OFF…THANX!!!
I tied a string around mine hoping it would fall off. Its behind my ear lobe and isn’t attached by much skin. Its finger tip sized. Can this followed by antiseptic treatment work?
Hi nowayz, I’m very happy for you. Thanks for giving us an update
Hi earloid, I’m not exactly sure what you mean by tying a string around it. Are you trying to cut the circulation off the keloid?
Yes. I’ve heard of people getting rid of growths this way and wanted to try it.
Ah okay that’s new to me. Let me know how it goes, I’m quite interested to hear.
The only advice I can give is to maybe avoid the harsher antiseptics and just stick to something gentle like iodine, I would imagine the area that’s tied off to be quite raw.
Best of luck!
hi samantha,
i had piercing 4 yrs. ago, then my ear got infected because the piercing created a wound when i was about to put my earrings in, then after that i didn’t wore my earrings anymore but after a few weeks a bump in the back of my ear started to grow then after a few months it became larger and larger and and up to this time its about 6x the size of what was back then, is the bump in the back of my ear a keloid or something else, i really need your help thanx
Hi sam, without looking at your bump its impossible to tell. But in general if the bump feels hard to the touch it could be a keloid. If its softer and feels like its filled with fluid, it might be an infected cyst instead.
I have a round “growth” or “swelling” behind my earlobe - in the part that connects the head to the ear. It is soft, not hard like a cebaceous cyst (which I suffer from on other parts of my body). This feels like a water blister at first touch, but if you press more is a bit harder than softer. I am diabetic.
1) My derm said it was a cyst.
2) My ENT said it was a “skin infection”. He said there was nothing to drain. Put me on antibiotics 2x a day 300 mg.
What home remedy can I apply on there (DURAC has not worked). The growth or swelling does NOT appear to be open or draining.
It is causing much pain because it is pulling on my ear, and pushing up and makes it seem like I can’t hear as clearly. Have had this for about 5 days. Started like a fold, then got more rounded. It is about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch or less in width. Thanks in advance.
Sorry, I meant to add that I had a mastoidectomy done and they had to cut from one side of the ear to the other and there was a scar there. The operation was in 1990.
I have otherwise never had a problem in that area except for the growth or swelling there now. Thanks.
Hi Amy, if your doctors have already ruled out a recurrence of the cholesteatoma and the bump is a skin infection, you can use any of the remedies listed.
I would recommend using ACV* first (No 2). If there’s no improvement after 2 weeks, try the alkaline method instead (No 1).
*If the ACV proves to be too harsh, topical iodine is a very good substitute. The only thing abt iodine is that it may stain your skin and pillowcases.
Also, since you mentioned that you’re prone to sebaceous cysts, you might want to consider taking 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric daily for a few weeks and see what happens. Turmeric is known to be an excellent natural antibiotic (blood cleanser), and it may give results where synthetic antibiotics have failed.
Hope this helps!
Doc asked me to take FLORA-Q Dietary supplement to help decrease diarrhea that is caused by antibiotic Omnicef. However,
he also said it helps in decreasing yeast issues that arise in
women. I do not see any indication on the Flora-Q about that,
just gastrointestinal health. Did I misunderstand him? Thanks in advance.
Hi Amy, your doctor did the right thing. Taking oral antibiotics regularly (like Omnicef) will deplete the bacteria in your intestines.
This sounds fine except that the important “good” bacteria in your gut (which gives all sorts of health benefits and prevent some infections, including yeast infections) also get killed in the process.
The probiotic supplement you mentioned (Flora-Q) is one way to replenish the lost good bacteria.
Hi Samantha. I’ve developed keloids from acne and I’ve been dealing with them for about 2 years now. I have them on both sides of my jaw area. I’ve been getting steroid injections for quite some time now, and they seem to go down at first but they pop right back up after a few weeks. I decided to try the ACV method (also drinking 2 tablespoons a day). I use a q-tip and just run it along my keloids on my jaw. It stings for a little while, but it’s not unbearable. I do this about 10 times a day. The keloids seem to have dried out, but they’ve also become very red - almost as if they are burnt. Should I continue with the ACV? Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Chris, I’d recommend backing off the topical application of ACV until the skin heals. You might also want to consider diluting the ACV with some water in future, and/or lowering the number of applications per day.
p.s: If you have some iodine in your medicine cabinet you can use it instead of ACV. Iodine has the same anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties as ACV but its much less irritating to the skin.
Hi,
I have been dealing with a keloid behind my left ear due to a piercing hole that I let close. I have had the original keyloid removed surgically in 2005 and within the last year it has begun to regrow. I received the steriod injections last year which helped somewhat, but now it seems to be returning again and with a vengance. What I have notice is the keyloid seems to be affected by colder weather and only gives me problems in the winter by swelling and if I receive the injections I have no issues during the summer months.
Also I have begun to do the ACV treatment but am unsure if I am performing it properly. I am applying the ACV directly to the keyloid approximately 5-6 times a day. Is this correct or am I supposed to apply this more frequently in one period (one of your posts states several times every half-hour). Also I place a cotton ball with ACV behind my ear on the keyloid and tape it in place. What I have noticed (I have been doing this for only a day) is that this seems to only make the keyloid worse (maybe my imagination but I cannot be sure I’m already self-conscious enough about this).
Am I doing this right? I’m supposed to do this for two weeks correct? Please help as I hate this thing and I want it to go away (or at least be smaller and more acceptable for me). I have tried using the silicone sheets, but they are difficult to apply and hold with tape on the ear and seem to only flatten the keyloid and change the direction of it’s growth. Looking for answers. Please shed some light. Thank you.
Hi Samantha,
I can’t seem to find SSKI anywhere. I did find Iodine Tincture, can this be used instead? I find that the ACV is too harsh for my skin even when diluted. I’m still using the HBG, but every other day. My skin around the ends of my chest keloid has been blistering and is pretty dark and red. I’m hoping to try another less abrasive treatment like iodine.
Hi Felix, you’re applying the ACV correctly. There’s no magic number of times to re-apply it, it really all depends on how your skin responds. If the skin is tougher and doesn’t show too much irritation, you can re-apply more often.
But since you said that the keloid is “looking worse”, trust your judgement and stop the ACV applications.
When your skin has calmed down enough, you can try the baking soda + H2O2 method (alkaline). The solution should not irritate your skin like ACV so you can sustain the treatment for longer.
Let me know how you get on.
p.s: Its possible that your keloid tend to act up in winter because of the more frequently-occuring large temperature changes that your skin (and ears) has to go through each day. This happens everytime a person moves from the cold outside and into a heated indoor space, and vice versa.
Hi Michelle, yes you can use tincture of iodine instead. It’ll also help make sure the blistered skin doesn’t get infected.
p.s: Btw, if you choose to resume HBG in future, you can protect the surrounding skin with some vaseline (or other skin oils). The oil will act as a barrier to HBG, so even if the paste extends beyond the keloid it won’t be affected.
Hi Samantha.
I have had several operations on my knee (years ago) and as a result I had developed a lot of scar tissue (keloids?) in there. I also have Chondromalacia. I have had pain in my knee since the operations. I have moved and had to start over with a new orthopedist. He wants me to have physical therapy for my knee and claims that keloids internally are not painful. I had been advised in the past to never have p.t. and was told that internal keloids are painful. Do internal keloids cause pain? If so, can the p.t. cause more pain? Thank you. Hope you have a Happy Holiday.
Hi Ruth, this is a difficult question for me to answer as I’m not a PT specialist.
This is what I know though - internal scarring CAN lead to pain and more limited movement depending on the site where its at. Joints are the most vulnerable.
Does your orthopedist not believe you when you tell him/her that the area is painful? If so, it might be worth it to look around for another doctor. It can make a world of difference to have a doctor you trust and is willing to listen.
p.s: If you’re not doing so already, taking MSM supplements can help strengthen and repair weak connective tissues. It can also alleviate pain. Hope this helps!
Hi Samantha,
Firstly I just want to say that I only stumbled across this site last night and it is really giving me hope. My case is very similar to Dina’s - my keloid is on my chest, about 1 and a half centimetres wide and the same in length. It’s a dark pink colour, can get very itchy (especially after I drink) and hurts for no reason. I’ve had it since before 2003. I’m in my early 20s and it’s been a nightmare trying to find clothes that will hide it as nearly everything is v-necked and low-cut!
I am really keen to try the ACV after hearing what people have said. I understand that not everything will work for everyone, but I was wondering how much I can expect the scar to die down? Can it ever fully disappear? Also, how is the ACV meant to be applied?
Thank you so much for your help!
Hi Jules,
If the remedies work you can expect some flattening and an improvement in the color. The itch should also be gone. However, there might remain scar tissue from the original wound, so that it would resemble a regular hypertrophic (raised) scar.
To reduce (and possibly remove) this scar tissue, I recommend copper peptides. If you have some free time, read up on “skin-remodeling copper peptides” at www.scar-reduction.com. The website is a little hard to read but its well worth the effort.
p.s: ACV can be applied neat or diluted with water straight on the keloid.
Best of luck!
I have these bumps on the back of my head and I was wondering if they were keloids. Almost every one say they they’ve had piercings and that’s where they came from. Is it what I have. I went to the doctor about six years ago and he injected it with steroids but I never went back. I can’t remember what he said they were called. Back then there just a few of them now they seem to be coming in more.
Thanks for that Samantha! I bought ACV today and I’ve applied it with a cotton pad several times already. Is it meant to have a stinging or itching effect? I haven’t experienced any at all, it feels fine. I might take the advice you gave someone else and leave a soaked cotton bud on the scar overnight.
Fingers crossed *something* will happen, but I know keloids on the chest are particularly hard to tackle!
Merry Christmas everyone!
This is the third day I’ve used ACV. As I said before, it didn’t sting at all the first two days, but this morning when I applied it, it stung a lot and I noticed tiny little bumps appearing on and around my scar. Is this normal? I’ve applied it twice since and the same thing happens. I think I’ll leave it for a little while (until I receive a response). Thanks!
I have a keloid on my ear lobe.I’ve had it for about 2 yrs now, but I just want to know which of all the remedies are best.I’m currently using the baking soda/peroxide method as I type.Should I change to another method?
p.s.Thanks So Much For Hosting This Site.
Hi Jules, ACV doesn’t have to sting to have an effect. If little bumps are appearing, it might be a sign of irritation, in which case you should monitor it and cut down on the application as needed.
ACV is acidic and can thin the skin temporarily, so the application of more acid on top of this thinner skin can lead to broken skin and even bleeding if repeated excessively, so do be careful. You can safely modulate the application by diluting it with water or taking a break. Let me know how you get on.
Hi Wayne, there is no “best” remedy because a method that may work for one keloid may not work on another. Part of the reason may lie on whether the underlying infection is bacterial or fungal (and even viral) in nature. And there is really no way of knowing which it is until you try.
If after two weeks of consistent use of the H2O2/baking soda method and you have no flattening or reduced itching, you can move on to another method. And once you find a remedy that produces a difference, you should stick with it until it kills the keloid. Best of luck!
hello samantha,
saw your site today and felt great as it seems a good new for me. 4 years back when i had my first delivery , i got burn. due to which i had all burn scars and keloids in my legs. i did not want to go for plastic surgery. initially i applied contratubex gel (from Germany). it has decreased a lot. i mean 90% has gone(this medicine is a miracle) but i had to massage it regularly. again i conceived and had a baby due to which i neglected myself. now again i want to work on my keloid .will this crushed garlic work for me.thank
khosbhoo
Hi samantha, i am so relieved i came across your site! i have been told by doctors that i shouldn’t do anything about my keloid because i would run the risk of it getting irritated and then growing larger.. my keloid is raised and red, smack in the middle of my upper chest, and it’s been there for many years now. i suspect that it started as a pimple, and now i fear that i may have two smaller ones developing nearby.
my skin is slightly sensitive, and i am allergic to acne products containing benzoyl peroxide so that rules out the alkaline baking soda mix. i am considering trying the ACV, as it seems to be the most effective method, however some people appear to find it harsh on the skin. Which remedy should i try? If my keloid reacts adversely to the treatment will it grow bigger?
Hi khosbhoo, yes garlic is a possible remedy, just be careful not over-apply as it can be particularly harsh. Tip: You can protect your surrounding healthy skin with some vaseline or other oils so that it won’t be irritated during your applications.
Hi sher, if your skin is very sensitive, you can consider topical brown iodine instead of ACV. It has similar properties to ACV but is much gentler on the skin. It should also not adversely affect your keloid (allergies to it are rare since our body needs this mineral). The only downside is that it can stain clothes and bedding.
Hope this helps!
Hello!
I have a keloid on my earlobe from a piercing. The unusual thing about it though is that it is an internal keloid that has slowly been growing inside of my earlobe and is beginning to protrude out the back and somewhat out the front. I keep my earrings in because it will close my holes, though I can only wear one pair of earrings and they are stretched so that they fit the new width of my ear. I have had my ears pierced for about 4 years now ( this is the third time-I always ended up with infections) and the keloid has been present for about a year and a half now. I consulted a plastic surgeon who wanted to remove it, but informed me that the chance of it returning and being larger was greater than 50%, so I decided not to go through with it. Today i purchased 100% tea tree oil, as i heard it was a possible remedy and because I have had it with this keloid. It is itchy and I can no longer sleep on the left side of my head because it hurts too bad. I am curious if this will work on my type of keloid and if it is safe to use? Any advice would be completely welcome!!
hi samantha, hope you had a great new year. my question is about using SSKI and DMSO together, i gather that these are meant to be in liquid form, however most of the sski found online comes in tabs. (searched for it by “potassium iodide”), on the other hand i’ve heard that dmso has to be a 99.9% pure, 50% concentration solution, well, again, most are just labeled 99.9% so is it ok to use at any concentration, regarless?
I had a skin graft done about six months ago on my calf and the doner skin was from the side of my thigh. Now I have Keloids on both of the wounds and the doner skin on the side of my thigh is 3×4 inches big and it is all Keloids. Before I had problems with the doner side I used Mederma and a had a bad reaction to it. So, afterwords my doner side was very itchy, red and had a bumpy texture. So, what would be the best resolution, what should I put on the scar.
Hey Samantha,
Thanks for your reply! I’ve been using ACV about 3 or 4 times a day, and it stings a little sometimes but not as badly as I mentioned before. My scar feels different now, it’s a little softer and I’ve noticed it’s flatter in the mornings (though this might also have been the case before i started using ACV). The big change is that the occasional sharp pains and itching have mainly disappeared, which is fantastic. Let’s hope I will see some change in the appearance as well
Hi Sam, I tried the ACV method but didn’t have any luck with it. I’m now going to try the Baking Soda + hydrogen peroxide method. I was just wondering how much hydrogen peroxide to mix with how much baking soda. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Lyndsey, yes tea tree oil is a very good anti-bacterial and anti-fungal topical. It should also be quite gentle on your ear to use daily. Keep up with regular applications, and let me know how you get on.
Hi Viki, if you find it difficult to find SSKI, you can use Lugol’s Solution instead as a substitute. This is a mixture of Potassium Iodine (or SSKI) and Iodine and is much more common (amazon sells it).
The DMSO is recommended together with SSKI because it may help the SSKI to more easily penetrate the keloid. SSKI is the main active ingredient needed, and the DMSO is just a “helper” that’s good to have, but not integral. If you can get your hands on some DMSO, any concentration should be helpful, its not an exact science. I hope this makes sense!
Hi Joanna, since you had a bad reaction to Mederma, you might have more sensitive skin, so take it slow if you want to try the remedies. I would also advise you to avoid the harsher remedies of ACV and garlic. Topical brown iodine would be a good and gentle substitute. However do only use it if your graft and donor area has completely healed over.
p.s: If the donor side is still healing, a good commercial product to consider will be one that contains copper peptides. Applying copper peptides around the rim of the wound will help it to close. In fact, do a search on “copper peptides” “skin graft” in google to see the studies done.
Jules, I’m happy to hear the itching and pain has subsided!
Hi Chris, for the baking soda + H2O2 method, it should be of equal parts.
Hi Samantha, just had a couple more questions about the baking soda + H2O2 method.
1) How often should I reapply? Every time it dries or every 30 minutes, etc?
2) Is the substance supposed to be liquidy at all after mixing? I feel like I may not be using enough baking soda.
3) Is it okay to mix a cup of it and leave it in the open, or should I refidgerateit. Or, should I only mix enough so that only have one use of it.
Hi Chris, you can re-apply when it dries and starts flaking off. It should have a consistency like paste, and not too watery that its difficult to apply.
The paste should be applied as fresh as possible, as the H2O2 will start to break down when mixed and keeping it too long will weaken the effectiveness. (Hydrogen peroxide by itself also doesn’t store so well so do look out for the expiry date on the bottles.)
i pierced my ears on the top as well as my nose when i discovered that i was pregnant.,,,does pregnancy have anything to do with keloid formation
mona
Hi Mona, yes there is a link between pregnancy and keloids.
One theory is that keloid formation is accelerated by the presence of higher hormone (including melanocyte-stimulating hormone/MSH) levels in body. Higher levels of these hormones occur during pregnancy and puberty due to the hyperactive pituitary gland.
Hi Samantha, I’m have a keloid scar on my shoulder and it’s been bugging me for a while! I don’t know exactly how I got it, but I had it after a few months after I had chicken poxs. I am currently 12 and I’ve had this scar when I was possibly 6-8. Can you name me the possible treatments in flattening or reducing the color ( it’s brownish-reddish ) of my keloid scar? I’m going to 8th grade next year and Its really difficult to find dresses that cover my keloid scar. I’m really interested in the ACV treatment, but I’m not entirely sure if it can work for my case! Thanks!
Safira
Hi Safira, I think you must be the youngest commenter here.
Welcome!
You’ve got one powerful advantage in thinking of starting keloid treatment so young - all your cells can heal itself at a faster rate than an adult.
Most people try ACV first, and its probably the simplest method to start with. Just be mindful that ACV is irritating to the skin - take it slow and add some water to the ACV if needed. Trust your judgement in this.
And if you use ACV and the skin gets a little red, do carefully protect the area from the sun during the day. Reddened or irritated skin is much more likely to darken (develop hyperpigmentation) even after just a short exposure to sunlight. (TIP: If your clothing isn’t enough to shield your skin from the sun’s rays, you can add another protective layer with a band-aid.)
The good news is that if you protect your skin from sunlight diligently during treatment, ACV can also help reduce the current brownish pigmentation you mentioned. This is because ACV is an exfoliator (like other acid skin peels) that can help reduce excess pigmentation by removing the top layers of skin and encouraging fresher skin to move up quickly. After several cycles of this, light cases of hyperpigmentation will start to fade.
Best of luck!
Samantha,
I wanted to know does crushed aspirin really work on a keloid? I”ve had one for about two years now on the back of my upper ear. It doesn’t really bother me unless I am getting my hair done at the salon and they bump it. I also find that sometimes it does itch. I really want to get rid of it, because it is such a burden. I can’t really afford some of the other treatment options you mentioned, but I would like to know if aspirin really does work. Thanks!
Jenelle
You all are lucky. I’m currently 17, but I got a crazy acne breakout freshman year and soon after my upper back and the middle of my chest was covered in keloids and acne. I have probably 40 something keloids total and have been regularly going to the dermatologist for years battling this stuff. The acne is finally gone thank god. However, a couple months ago I got something caled keratosis pilaris on my upper arms. Now, I’m just trying to get them all flattened and lasered to get rid of the color.
I got some apple cider vinegar today, and I’m gonna start trying this stuff out. The process at the dermatologist is taking forever, wish me luck guys I’ll keep you all updated on the progress.
Hi Samantha,
I’ve had my ear pierced for over 8 years now. I have a keloid on my right ear which is quite large. I am going to see a plastic surgeon next month to have it removed. That keloid developed soon after I first got the piercing. I have not worn an earing in either ear in close to 7 years.
However I’ve noticed yesterday that the other ear, which has been fine all these years, has a small bump that is a bit painful. I am terrified that a keliod might be forming there as well. That ear has had no infections, unlike the other ear so I am a bit confused as to why a bump might be developing there after all these years.
Can you tell me whether your ACV treatment may work in this case. I absolutely do not want another keloid on that ear. Any help on this would be appreciated.
Thanks for the informative site!
Hi Jenelle, the aspirin method is supposed to achieve the same objectives as the other remedies - namely to kill the underlying infection. It’s also one of the more milder remedies, so your skin should not be too irritated when you use it. But you might have to keep at it for longer to see results because of this reason also. Hope that helps!
Hi Mel, if its an infection on the other ear also then ACV should be able to work on it (and fairly quickly since its a new bump).
p.s: Good luck Josh, and do keep us updated on your progress.
Hi Samantha, thank you for spending the time to do this website, it has given me new hope as I have just been suffering a serious bout of depression. I have about 12 keloids (6 on each shoulder) and have had them for 10 or so years (from acne), Have tried many things; silicone sheets, injections to name a few. Only one (and it was a big one) was completely flattened by injections and has remained flat but I’m still battling with the rest. I’m going to give ACV a try, thanks for these remedies, I hope they help! I just wondered - I have not developed any new keloids in 10 years (since I got the first lot) despite some acne so do you think that’s a good sign that I will not develop any more? I’ve been putting silicon gel around areas I feel may be prone but I could end up using so much gel and it becomes costly! Is it a good idea to take iodine supplements just to help? Thanks so much.
Hi Amber, over the last ten years, have you made any dietary or lifestyle changes? That might have contributed to your body’s increased ability to fend off new keloid formation.
And yes its a good idea to take iodine supplements. Most of us are deficient in the mineral, which causes not just skin issues but a whole host of health problems as well. If you’re interested to learn more about iodine, Chapter 1 of “The Health Detective’s 456 Most Powerful Healing Secrets” is a good place to start. The chapter is still free for reading on Google Books.
p.s: On that note, foods that are rich in magnesium are also beneficial. Higher levels of magnesium has been found to improve scar formation, which may include keloids as well.&
Hi,
3 months back i suffered burns on my thigh when hot water fell over. I was hospitalised for 9 days(treatment included bacterial gauze dressing -every day and collagen dressing - the day i was discharged). It took more than a month to heal. I have now got keloid over few parts of the thigh now.its quite painful at times. My doctor (a physician) told me to apply Lobate - GM (clobetasol propionate gentamicin and micanazole nitrate cream). Its helping me get rid of it but at a very slow pace. Next she advised me to see a skin specialist. it was from the specialist that i got to know that its a keloid formation. he has advised me to use an ointment called Halovate for a month, but he’s not not sure whether its gonna help. I read about fasting on your website, i was thinking of trying it for few days. Kindly advise.
Hi ayesha, I’m sorry to hear about your accident. Fasting can have a healing effect on the whole body. I would recommend that you read up more on fasting to understand what would happen during the process. When you have some free time and feel like reading, two good places to start is here and here.
Best of luck!
Hi Samantha, I guess over the last 10 years I have become more healthy in terms of what foods i eat so maybe that has helped. Thank you for your advice - i got some iodine supplements today. I’m also thinking of fasting, I have been reading up a bit but am unsure as to whether to try a dry fast (like you have mentioned at the top here) or a liquid one. I’m just a bit worried about getting dehydrated in summer with the dry fast but then apparently it is more effective? After say 12 hours or so of the dry fasting, are you able to drink up on water and eat a good meal? Thanks.
dear sam,
we are lucky to have something like this, i have had keloids on my shoulder for 3 years, when my college days i never had it even when i had a wound…one year after i delivered my baby i got a wound and have a keloid now. i am wondering why it happens? and what are foods rich in iodine? is it sea foods? i ate it a lot. is that why i formed keloid?
april
Hi Sam,
I tried the ACV treatment and the small bump on my ear is now gone! Hopefully never to return again! Thanks so much. This forum really helps.
As I mentioned before, I am going to see a surgeon to remove a large keloid from my other ear. Can I use the ACV on that ear after the surgeory as an after treatment to minimize the re-growth?
Thanks
Hi April, the tendency to form keloids has been linked to both genetics and diet.
According to traditional chinese medicine, marine proteins in seafood like crabs, lobster, prawns, and shrimp may speed up collagen production in keloids.
Fish and seafood contains iodine but not as much as you would think. A much higher source of iodine comes from sea vegetables like kelp and seaweed.
Hi Mel, that’s great!
Thanks for sharing your results, too.
And applying ACV post-surgery is not advisable because of its acid content. You wouldn’t want to apply it on a surgical wound or stitches.
Topical brown iodine can accomplish the same thing as ACV (keeping infection at bay) plus its safe to use while your incision heals.
Before your surgery, it might also be a good idea to take dietary iodine supplements each day. This will help prepare your body for better healing, as a deficiency in this mineral is linked to keloid formation.
Best of luck!
Hey Samantha!
I’ve had an Industrial piercing for 96 days now, about 3 months and i have two (maybe three) little bumps. The first one is on the iside of the ear shell, surrounding the bottom of the bar, but its small and whitish, originally it was filled with a little bit of fluid and blood but i popped it and used tea tree on it. It got smaller and now it doesnt really exist but im curious as to what it was/is.
The second one isnt really a bump as such, and its been there for quite a while. Its more of a situation where the skin seems to have “Stretched” a little and grown a little with a hump. It isnt painful and it doesnt seem rounded at all, but again, i would like to know what it is and if its gonna get bigger.
The last one i noticed only today, but its definately a little rounded lump. Its tender and pink but not hard to the touch and its squishy, is it a keloid?
And lastly, is ACV the same as simple “Apple vinegar”?
Thank you!
Hi Vee, in general, if a bump is filled with fluid, its a sign of a simple infection. It can be thought of as a blister and is the body’s response to injury and infection.
It doesn’t sound like you have any keloids, though.
The 2nd one you described could be a more deeply buried infection - which could be why the bump is less rounded on the surface. Or it could just be raised scar tissue, in which case it shouldn’t grow any further.
The third bump sounds like an infection, “squishy” as it is. Keloids tend to be harder to the touch. It can be treated with tea tree oil the same way as your first bump.
And people sometimes refer to apple cider vinegar (ACV) as simply apple vinegar - but its the same thing. Just check the label to make sure its not a flavored type like “balsamic apple vinegar”. HTH!
Me again!
Hey, thank you for your help Samantha! Im glad to know what the other bumps were! I didnt think they were keloids, since they dont get bigger, though they do harden a bit when i go out into the cold.
The last bump i think you were right about, i was pretty bad and poked it with a pair of tweezers and blood and fluid came out after a bit and the bump is reduced in size a bit, so i used Tea tree, seems to be working =)
Do Keloids Bleed by any chance if you poke em with tweezers?
hi there samantha! how are ya doin? i’m from asian country and i do have a keloid on my left shoulder. i got it when i was givin a vaccination for anti-polio thing, i was then 13 yrs old when a nurse was giving me a shot. as days passes by, it grows bigger! i was thinking maybe bcoz my parents have it too on their shoulders, so its kinda genetic…i’m already 22 now, it ahs been a long time i have it with me, so embarrassing. i seen your advices or home remedies, i will try to do it and i will send you message after if there would be any changes. thank you for the remedies hopefully it will work on me!!!
Hi,
3 months back I suffered burns on my thigh when hot water fell over. I was hospitalized for 9 days (treatment included bacterial gauze dressing -every day and collagen dressing - the day I was discharged). It took more than a month to heal. I have now got keloid over few parts of the thigh now. It’s quite painful at times. I cannot move easily, cannot wear anything on that part, and cannot stand for a long time. My doctor (a physician) told me to apply Lobate - GM (clobetasol propionate gentamicin and micanazole nitrate cream). It’s helping me get rid of it but at a very slow pace. Next she advised me to see a skin specialist. It was from the specialist that I got to know that it’s a keloid formation. But my physician says it’s just a hypertrophic scar. The skin specialist has advised me to use an ointment called Halovate (Halobetasol propionate cream) for a month, but he’s not sure whether it’s going to help. I read about fasting on your website, I was thinking of trying it for few days. Kindly advise.
Hi Samantha,
i stopped applying baking soda solution for a while but i started again. i apply only once in a day and wash it off after 30 minutes. i have been doing this for the past 10 days. i feel itching . Still i do not see any flattening but keloids look softer. what shall i do. shall i stick to baking soda solution for one more week.
Yea hi I got my eyebrow pierced just under a year ago and i thought the bump that grew out of the side was just a spot or something so I would squeaze and pop it and I have a high pain threshold so I have cut it open witha scalpel and squezed some puss out but mostly blood it doesnt seem to get noticably larger since i have attacked it but just recently i cut it open and accidently put my eyebrow bar through it and was thinking it was the original hole or something! I am just worried that i am doing myself serious damage by cuttin the “keloid”! any help will be fantastic and does it happen to all my piercings or was it jus bad luck it happened in the first place?
hello, i just got my helix peirced about a month ago and i just noticed there seems to be a small bump forming on the back or my ear around the hole. i got into a bad habit of playing around with it all the time, not touching the hole, but just the peircing. it doesn’t hurt and theres no puss or discolouration or anything. im wondering is there anything i can do so shrink the bump or stop it from growing.
Hi Vee, good to hear the tea tree oil is working.
To answer your question, yes keloids can bleed when cut into. But the bleeding will not “deflate” it like a fluid-filled bump.
Hi maricel, keloids induced from vaccination injections are actually quite common. Good luck with your treatment!
Hi ayesha, not sure if it was a glitch that reposted your comment, but in any case did you see my reply here?
Hi Jack, you can step up to the ACV method and see if you can get better results. I think you mentioned that you couldn’t find it in India, but have you checked the aisles in the larger supermarkets? ACV is a fairly common cooking ingredient in other parts of the world.
If you still cannot find it, white vinegar can be used as a substitute, but you might need to use it for a longer time.
Hi Sean, you probably did not do any “serious” damage. If the earlier wound happened several months ago it would have healed sufficiently by now. Just keep the area clean now that you’ve pierced through it again to prevent re-infection. You might want to dab it with an anti-bacterial like tea tree oil daily just to keep it sterile until it closes over. HTH!
Hi Luke, sometimes a bump like you described (no dicoloration, pain, or fluid) is caused by normal swelling - the body’s reaction to the foreign object in your ear. It’s not an infection and should subside on its own once the piercing is removed. But this could take anywhere from weeks to several months to do.
p.s: And if you want to be 100% sure that it isn’t an infection, you could try dabbing tea tree oil or ACV and see if the bump lessens any.
Hi samantha
its very interresting reading all of the above. i hope you can help me, i am a 29 year old male and had a lump cist removed by my praticionar on the back of my neck last march its in a rather an annoying place just in line with my collar shirt which rubs as i have to wear every day at work. i have been to the hospital about it but found the doctor there quite flippant about the scar saying dont worry its only a keliod! obviuosly you cant see it but it feels quite hard almost rubbery but wrinkly if i arch my neck back to its squashed together, does this sound like a keliod to you? it is roughly 20mm widde by 10mm n height, its the first scare like this ive had before and would dearly love it to flaten out. could this be possible and if so what would you recommend.
Do you know if these scars can get bigger because i belive it has got slightly bigger although i maybe slightly paraniod.
Kind Regards Andy
I have had keloids for over 20 years now as a result of stretch marks after childbirth. I had my ears pierced over 30 years ago and have just now developed a keloid. I have tried the Baking Soda and peroxiod for several days. It got smaller and just recently started getting bigger again. I am going to try a ACV now and see what happens.
I have a number of keloids all over my body. But the one that was causing me a lot of misery is the keloid on my chest. About 3 years ago keloids developed from little pimples on my chest. It is now about the 1.8″ by 1.5″ and 2 smaller ones. Lately it got infected once every 3 weeks. Its like a little volcano bubbling with pus. After a few very painful/uncomfortable days it will erupt and I will feel better for a few days and then it will return with a vengeance. I aready had 5 “eruptions” the last 4 or 5 months.
I seen a number of specialists and all they gave me was cream to stop the itch and antibiotics. I did had injections directly into the keloids but believe me it was a very painful experience.
I am glad I chance upon this webpage. Can anyone out there advise?
I have a keloid due to multiple ear piercings when i was 15 (im 20 now)..it’s on the top of my ear. At first, the original keloid looks like it was jutting out and i had surgery to remove it. The surgeons manage to cut off the ” jutting out” part and the size of the keloid shrunk. However, it grew back. bigger than before. I had injections directly at the keloid and it was really painful. Is there anyway to reduce it? I have to go back for another injection in Mar, and i was also wondering if i should go for another surgery? My doctor told me that this time if they were to cut away the infected part, my left ear will be smaller than my right one and of course there will be recurrence. Im really at loss. What should I do in the mean time to shrink it?
I have keloids in the back of my head for about 5 years. I have never been treated for them, but will try these remedies that have been submitted. Is there any other advice you can give me to prevent further spread of the keloids?