Will steam baths worsen the appearance of keloid scars?

Doctor's Answers 1

Keloid scars are tough weirdly shaped scar that rises above the rest of the skin. It tends to enlarge progressively. These scars can develop over weeks and even months.

To answer your question, it can make keloid scars appear more red. This is due to the heat from the steam bath. It can cause dilation of the blood vessels within the scar.

However, it should not have any long term effects. Keloid scars are normally worsened if they are located in areas of increased movement. An example would be across joints.

Keloids can be effectively treated using a combination of VBEAM laser and steroid injections over a series of 4-5 monthly treatments.

Similar Questions

How painful is keloid scar treatment?

Thanks for the question. I do agree with the answers posted by Dr Winston and Dr Ethan that intra-lesional steroid injections (injecting directly into the keloid) would be the most suitable treatment to reduce the size and thickness of the keloid. Several monthly injections will be needed. The initial injections may be a little more painful but the pain is usually better with subsequent injections. There will be some pain with the injection but this is usually bearable. If you are really afraid of the pain, applying some numbing cream prior to the injection may help.

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Answered By

Dr Colin Theng

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Is it possible for TCA CROSS to cause keloid scars?

Hi,Yes, TCA cross uses high concentration of Trichloro-Acetic acid (TCA) to injure the skin to cause subsequent skin inflammation, healing and scar improvement. If incorrectly applied or applied in excessive amount, the TCA may indeed cause excessive skin damage resulting in additional scarring including keloid scars. As with most aesthetic procedures, your doctor’s competence and experience will reduce potential side effects to the minimum. Hope this helps!

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Dr Chin Yee Choong

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