At South Yarra Dermatology, we understand that keloid scars affect more than just your appearance. They can cause physical discomfort and impact how you feel about your skin. Our approach combines evidence-based medical treatments with genuine care, supporting you through every stage of your journey toward flatter, more comfortable skin.
Before we discuss treatments, we begin by understanding your experience. When did your keloid develop and what triggered it? Have you tried any treatments previously? Most importantly, how is it affecting your daily life?
Keloid scars are overgrown scars that develop when the body produces too much collagen during healing. Unlike normal scars, keloids continue to grow beyond the original injury site and can become raised, thick, firm, and sometimes itchy or painful. While keloids are benign, they can be stubborn to treat, particularly when visible on the chest, shoulders, earlobes, or jawline.
By helping you understand how keloids form and the reasoning behind each treatment recommendation, we ensure you’re an informed and active partner in managing your scar. This allows us to design a treatment plan that’s truly tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Before we discuss treatments, we begin by understanding your experience. When did your keloid develop and what triggered it? Have you tried any treatments previously? Most importantly, how is it affecting your daily life?
Keloid scars are overgrown scars that develop when the body produces too much collagen during healing. Unlike normal scars, keloids continue to grow beyond the original injury site and can become raised, thick, firm, and sometimes itchy or painful. While keloids are benign, they can be stubborn to treat, particularly when visible on the chest, shoulders, earlobes, or jawline.
By helping you understand how keloids form and the reasoning behind each treatment recommendation, we ensure you’re an informed and active partner in managing your scar. This allows us to design a treatment plan that’s truly tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Every keloid scar is different, and so is every approach to treatment. Before recommending procedures, we take time to understand when your keloid developed, what triggered it, and how it affects your daily life. This helps us create a plan that’s tailored to your scar and your goals.
Best for: Most keloid types, particularly raised, inflamed, or symptomatic scars causing itching, tenderness, or discomfort
Downtime: Minimal; injections performed in-clinic every 2-4 weeks over several months
First-line treatment to reduce inflammation, size, and discomfort through targeted scar reduction. Most patients notice visible flattening and symptom relief within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment.
Best for: Red or vascular keloids, pigmentation concerns, and texture improvement. Particularly effective for keloids with prominent blood vessels or uneven colouration
Downtime: Minimal; mild redness for 1-3 days following treatment. Most patients can resume normal activities immediately
Vascular lasers help improve colour, reduce vascularity, and remodel collagen. Multiple sessions are typically required, spaced several weeks apart, to achieve optimal results.
Keloid scars can affect anyone, at any stage of life. Whether your keloid developed from an injury, piercing, surgery, or acne, our dermatologists provide personalised care to flatten, fade, and relieve symptoms while preventing recurrence.
During your initial consultation, we take time to understand your keloid’s history, what you’ve tried previously, and how it’s affecting your life. This comprehensive assessment forms the foundation for a treatment plan designed around your individual needs and circumstances.
We’ll discuss each recommendation in detail: what it involves, realistic timelines, and what you can expect. Our focus is on providing effective, evidence-based treatment delivered with genuine care and attention.
No. Hypertrophic scars stay within the boundary of the original wound and often flatten over time. Keloids grow beyond the wound site and tend to persist or enlarge without treatment.
If you’re prone to keloids, avoid unnecessary piercings or tattoos, and treat wounds early. We offer preventive care after surgery or injury to help stop keloids from developing in susceptible individuals.
Keloids can recur. That’s why we combine treatments and offer long-term follow-up care to reduce this risk. Ongoing management and preventive strategies are important parts of keloid treatment.
Injections may cause mild discomfort, but we can use numbing cream or local anaesthetic to improve your comfort. Laser treatment is generally well tolerated with minimal discomfort.
Treatment duration varies depending on the size and severity of your keloid. Most patients require multiple sessions over three to six months, with treatments typically scheduled every two to four weeks.
Keloids can affect anyone, but they’re more common in people with darker skin tones and those with a family history of keloid formation. They often develop after injuries, piercings, surgery, or acne.
