Causes and Diagnoses
Causes and Diagnoses
Researchers still don’t know what causes certain people to produce excess collagen and develop keloids. You are at a higher risk of developing keloids if you:
- Are of African, Asian or Hispanic heritage
- Have a family history of keloids
- Are under 30 years old
If someone is prone to keloids, nearly any injury to the skin can cause them to grow, including:
- Surgical incision
- Burn
- Cut
- Ear piercing
- Tattoo
- Severe acne
- Chickenpox
- Nothing at all, in the case of spontaneous keloids
Diagnosing keloids
A diagnosis of keloid scar usually involves just a physical exam. If it’s a strange shape or unknown origin, your physician may take a biopsy (small sample) of the tissue to study under a microscope.
Diagnostic Tests
Related Resources
Other Benign Skin Growths
Find out about the different non-cancerous growths that appear on the skin in response to sun and other triggers.
Scar Revision
Scar revision surgery may improve the cosmetic appearance of the scar or restore function to a part of the body that may have been restricted.
