Keloids: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Keloids?
A dermatologist, a doctor who treats skin conditions, usually diagnoses and treats keloids. Your primary care doctor can look at a scar that worries you and refer you to a skin specialist. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What are keloids?
A keloid is a growth of extra scar tissue. It forms where the skin has healed after an injury. A keloid can be as small as a pimple or larger than a football.
Keloids usually are not harmful to your health, but they may change how you look. Most people who seek treatment do so because they dislike how the scar looks.
Symptoms
A keloid may look and feel like this:
- Flesh-colored, red, or pink, and sometimes darker over time.
- Lumpy or ridged, and either hard and rubbery or soft and doughy.
- Tender, itchy, or burning, especially while it is growing.
- Irritated by rubbing from clothing.
Keloids most often form on the ear or earlobe, jawline, chest, upper back, or shoulder. A keloid can take 3 to 12 months or longer to appear. It tends to grow slowly. A keloid can tan darker than the skin around it if it is in the sun during the first year after it forms. The darker color may not go away. Once it stops growing, it rarely fades without treatment.
A large keloid or one over a joint can limit how far you can move. A keloid can also bleed if injured, and an open keloid can become infected.
Causes and who gets it
Keloids can form after skin injuries such as acne, burns, chickenpox, ear or body piercing, minor scratches, cuts from surgery, or vaccination sites. Sometimes a person cannot recall what injury caused a keloid.
Keloids are most common in people younger than 30. Black people, Asians, and Hispanics are more prone to them. Keloids often run in families.
How doctors diagnose it
A dermatologist can usually diagnose a keloid by looking at it. Other skin problems can look like a keloid. For example, an allergic reaction to the gold in earrings can cause swelling that looks like one. If the diagnosis is unclear, a doctor may do a skin biopsy. In a biopsy, the doctor numbs the area and removes a small piece of skin to check under a microscope.
Treatment
Keloids often do not need treatment. If a keloid bothers you, talk with a dermatologist. No treatment can consistently get rid of a keloid, and some return after treatment. Using two or more types of treatment often improves results. Options include:
- Corticosteroid injections, which can shrink the scar. A possible side effect in darker skin is light spots where the shots are given.
- Surgery to cut out the keloid. Nearly all keloids return after surgery alone, so another treatment usually follows.
- Freezing (cryosurgery), which can reduce the hardness and size of a keloid. It can leave a permanent light spot on brown or black skin.
- Laser treatment, silicone gel sheets, or a pressure earring or garment.
- Radiation after surgery, which can cause peeling, itching, and permanent skin color changes.
These treatments, especially surgery, sometimes make the keloid larger. Never put a silicone gel sheet on a scab or an open wound.
When to see a doctor
See a dermatologist if you want a keloid removed or made smaller. Contact your doctor if you have new symptoms. See a dermatologist if the wound on a keloid fails to heal, because an open keloid can become infected.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can look at a new or changing scar and refer you to a dermatologist. They can also help with follow-up after treatment.
Common questions
Are keloids dangerous?
No, keloids usually are not harmful to your health. They may affect how you look. They can also be itchy or tender, and a large one can limit movement.
Do keloids go away on their own?
Rarely. A keloid rarely fades without treatment. Once it stops growing, it tends to stay the same size.
Can keloids come back after treatment?
Yes, keloids can return after treatment. Nearly all return after surgery alone. Using a combination of treatments often works best.
Who is more likely to get keloids?
People younger than 30, people with a family history of keloids, and Black people, Asians, and Hispanics are more prone to keloids. Keloids often run in families.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Keloids
- American Academy of Dermatology - Keloid scars: Diagnosis and treatment
- American Academy of Dermatology - Keloid scars: Signs and symptoms
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
