Is there a permanent cure for Keloid Scars?

Kleoid scaring can be disfiguring and a very prominent keloid scar can cause a lot of distress. Keloids apart from looking aesthetically unacceptable, it also causes itch, pain and some discomfort during the day and sometimes even at night.
A true definition of a keloid scar is a scar that is not only raised but also horizontally larger. They are often also erythematous or pink in appearance. These scars form because of excess collagen growth in that particular area. Hence these keloid scars represent excess tissue growth beyond the orginal margins of theh wound.
Traditional treatment of these keloid scars have always been through steroid injections. This is still the mainstay of the treatment but recently there has been a lot of work done on various lasers that were previously not available or not thought to help these very stubborn scars but now shown to be incredibly effective.

I shall be mainly talking about 2 new lasers that are now available at my practice that can improve any stubborn keloid scars that were previously very stubborn to treat. These lasers can be commenced as early as the first few weeks after injury and also as late as several years post injury.

Before and After Steroid injections and V-beam

Facial Plast Surg 2012;28:518–524.
Sepehr Oliaei, John Stuart Nelson, Richard Fitzpatrick, Brian Wong Laser Treatment of Scars Facial Plast Surg 2012;28:518–524 Laser Treatment of Scars


Vbeam
The V beam laser or Pulse Dye Laser has been shown to improve scaring by destroying blood supply at the level of the dermis, hence stopping the formation of these keloid scars.
Futhermore, V beam laser has also been shown to disrupt the growth cycle of the cells, hence stopping the growth of these keloid scars. This methods of treating the keloid scars were previously not available before the introduction of the V beam.

The V beam laser works on the concept of selective photothermolysis. That means that it selectively breaks down specific particles in the skin. With a wavelength of 595nm, this particle happens to fall across the haemoglobin spectrum. Hence its main indication is treatment of pathologies of the vascular wavelength. Examples of this would be cherry haemangioma, telangiectasia and port wine stains.

Picture of a cherry haemangioma

Picture of telangiectasia over the nose

Picture of a baby with port-wine statins

This makes the V beam also a very good laser for the treatment of red raised and angry looking keloid scars. The V beam hence is able to improve not only the colour but also the bulk of the of the scar tissue.


Fraxel
The use of the Fraxel complements the V beam by induction of collegen remodelling of the scar tissue to improve the appearance of the keloid scar. This works by delivering controlled fractional doses of thermal energy to the keloid scar in controlled pulses and intervals, sufficient to induce collagen remodelling and allows for good contour changes in the scar

Summary
Keloids have always been difficult to treat. Surgical excision of these scars were previously performed but the tendency for them to return is higih. With the combination of these 2 new lasers in the market, I am now finally hopeful that there can be a permanent cure for the most stubborn pathologies that have long plagued doctors.

Click here to find out more
http://www.cliffordclinic.com/vbeam-laser-treatment/