Up-to-date approach to manage keloids and hypertrophic scars: a useful guide

Abstract

Keloids and hypertrophic scars occur anywhere from 30 to 90% of patients, and are characterized by pathologically excessive dermal fibrosis and aberrant wound healing. Both entities have different clinical and histochemical characteristics, and unfortunately still represent a great challenge for clinicians due to lack of efficacious treatments. Current advances in molecular biology and genetics reveal new preventive and therapeutical options which represent a hope to manage this highly prevalent, chronic and disabling problem, with long-term beneficial outcomes and improvement of quality of life. While we wait for these translational clinical products to be marketed, however, it is imperative to know the basics of the currently existing wide array of strategies to deal with excessive scars: from the classical corticotherapy, to the most recent botulinum toxin and lasers. The main aim of this review paper is to offer a useful up-to-date guideline to prevent and treat keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Keywords: Corticoids; Criotherapy; Keloid; Laser; Review; Scar.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors has any financial interest whatsoever in any of the drugs, treatments, techniques or instruments mentioned in this article.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Hypertrophic scar on the right side of the neck after removal of a benign cutaneous lesion.

Figure 2

Keloid on the right scapular back region as a consequence of severe acne scarring.