A keloid is a type of raised scar. Unlike other raised scars, keloids grow much larger than the wound that caused the scar. Researchers have found that between 33% and 50% of people who develop a keloid have at least one blood relative who gets keloids. Keloids can also be itchy and painful. Keloid scars differ from hypertrophic scars in that they do grow and spread beyond the margins or the wound or injury.
Treatments range from conservative or minimally invasive interventions, such as compression, silicone sheeting, topical or intralesional corticosteroids, and intralesional chemotherapy agents, to surgical excision with various reconstructive techniques and radiation therapy [2,3]. Because of the high risk of recurrence, especially for keloids, multiple or combination therapies are often required to achieve functional and/or cosmetic improvement.
Laser therapy is a relatively new treatment modality for keloids and hypertrophic scars. In particular, the utilization of specific laser platforms has emerged as a successful strategy in the treatment of symptomatic hypertrophic scars following burn injury.