Wounds that have healed, but have become puffy and discolored are scars. When these scars are located somewhere on the body that is easily visible some people might seek the help of a board-certified reconstructive surgeon.
It’s also possible for a scar to turn into a keloid. The reason some people get keloids and others do not is still unknown, but it is believed to be due to an individual’s genetic disposition. These types of skin scars occur when too much collagen collects at the site of a wound, then grows beyond the bounds of the original wound. Collagen is a protein and the body uses it to help heal the skin, but when too much collagen collects in one area under the skin it gets hard and the skin then stretches to accommodate the mass.
Keloids can appear on someone after they have had an open wound (which includes piercings), tattoos, acne, or chicken pox. They are categorized as either immature or mature. Immature keloids are soft to the touch, and the skin covering it may be sensitive. In mature incarnations, the collagen has hardened and the skin is no longer sensitive to touch.
A steroid procedure might be considered by those who have mature keloids that were caused by chicken pox or acne. Ones that are caused by open wounds often do not respond to steroid treatments alone, and instead need to be followed up with a laser treatment. However, steroid injection may slow the spreading of the keloids that are immature and soften the mature ones. Over time, steroid treatments will soften the mass of collagen and flatten them out. The skin will have a little discoloration, but it will no longer be raised and hard. More importantly, the type of steroid that is normally used in the removal treatment is very similar to what is used during chemotherapy; this type of procedure should only be done under the guidance of a certified cosmetic surgeon.
