Keloid
A keloid is a patch of excessive scar tissue that may form following a skin injury.
What is going on in the body?
Keloids generally form after a skin injury heals. For unknown reasons, some people produce an excess of dense, fibrous tissue at and around the site of injury. A keloid is abnormal because the scar extends above and beyond the site of the original injury. Normal scars stay confined to the site of injury.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
The exact cause of keloids is unknown. They do run in families, however, and are associated with certain abnormal genes. Other risk factors for keloids include the following:
age between 10 and 30
Polynesian, Chinese, and black African ethnic backgrounds
type A blood
Keloids are associated with skin healing after injury. Some events associated with keloid formation include the following:
accidental injuries, such as gunshot wounds
piercing of body parts, such as the earlobes and abdomen
surgery
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