Word parts
What it means
A scar that keeps growing after the wound has healed, because the body makes too much collagen. It is raised, shiny and often darker than the skin around it, and it can itch or feel tender. Keloids can follow surgery, burns, piercings or acne, and they are more common in people with darker skin. Unlike an ordinary raised scar, a keloid grows past the borders of the wound and does not flatten over time.
For the nurse
Ask about keloids before surgery or piercing, since a client who has had one is likely to form more. Teach that treatment (steroid injections, pressure, silicone sheets or surgery) can help, but keloids often come back.
At a glance
| Spanish | queloide |
|---|---|
| Also written | keloids |