Ayurvedic Treatment for Keloid uses a variety of procedures and internal medications of herbal and herbo mineral origin. A keloid sometimes referred to as a keloid scar, is a scar that rises quickly above the rest of the skin. They can be simply called scars that don’t know when to stop. Keloids are firm, irregular in shape, pink, purple or red, itchy bumps a smooth top that tend to enlarge progressively and appear at the site of previous skin damage. Unlike scars, keloids do not regress over time.
It is observed that people with darker skin are typically more predisposed to develop keloids. Simply cutting out a keloid is likely to result in an even larger keloid developing at the excision site. People with a tendency to form keloids should avoid cosmetic surgery.
Signs & symptoms
Keloids are raised areas of skin rashes and look shiny and dome-shaped, ranging from pink to red. Some keloids become quite large and ugly. Aside from causing potential cosmetic problems, these scars tend to be itchy, tender, or even painful to the touch.
Keloids develop most often on the chest, back, shoulders, and earlobes.
Causes
The exact cause of keloid is not known.
Hereditary factors play a role. A mutation in a gene known as NEDD4 gene may indicate that a person has a predisposition to keloid formation.
Pathophysiology
Though the pathophysiology of keloid and hypertrophic scars is not completely known, various cytokines have been implicated, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10, as well as various growth factors including transforming growth factor-beta and platelet-derived growth factor.
Keloid tissue is mostly composed of disorganised type 1 and 111 collagens, containing pale-staining hypocellular collagen bundles with no nodules or excess myofibroblasts.
Diagnosis
A direct physical examination can confirm the diagnosis of a keloid.
A keloid has a characteristic microscopic appearance and may be distinguished from a hypertrophic scar and a dermatofibroma.
Treatments
The methods now available to treat keloids are as follows:
- Corticosteroid injections (intralesional steroids): These are safe but painful injections given at regular intervals to help flatten keloids; however, steroid injections can also make the flattened keloid redder by stimulating the formation of more superficial blood vessels: which can be managed by laser therapy. The keloid may look better after treatment, but even the best results leave a mark that looks and feels quite different from the surrounding skin.
- Surgery: This is risky because cutting a keloid can trigger the formation of a similar or even larger keloid. Some surgeons achieve success by injecting steroids or applying compression (using a specialized pressure device where appropriate) to the wound site for months after cutting away the keloid. Superficial radiation treatment after surgical excision is also found to be useful.
- Laser: The pulsed-dye laser can be effective at flattening keloids and making them look less red. Treatment is safe and not very painful, but many sittings are needed.
- Silicone gel or sheeting: This involves wearing a sheet of silicone gel on the affected area continuously for months, which is hard to sustain. Results are variable.
- Pressure: For example, special earrings are available, which when used appropriately, can cause keloids on the earlobe to shrink significantly.
- Cryotherapy: Freezing keloids with liquid nitrogen may flatten them but often darkens or lightens the site of treatment.
- Interferon: Interferons are proteins produced by the body’s immune system that help fight off viruses, bacteria, and other challenges. In recent studies, injections of interferon have shown promise in reducing the size of keloids, though it’s not yet certain whether that effect will be lasting. Current research is underway using a variant of this method, applying topical imiquimod, which stimulates the body to produce interferon.
- Fluorouracil and bleomycin: Injections of these chemotherapeutic (anti-cancer) agents, alone or together with steroids, have been used for the treatment of keloids.
- Radiation: Some doctors have reported safe and effective use of radiation to treat keloids using a variety of techniques.
Prognosis
Small keloids can be effectively treated using a variety of methods. Generally, a series of injections of steroids into the area is the simplest and safest approach. The patient needs to understand that the keloid will never entirely disappear but is likely to become less symptomatic and flattened. Larger lesions are more difficult to treat.
Complications
Severe complications like carcinoma, are seen very rare.
In persons with diabetes, neurological disorders and joint diseases, keloids can cause severe issues like inflammation, numbness, or limited mobility.
The most common complication people choose to take keloid treatment is a change in appearance; a cosmetic issue.
Discomfort, pain or tenderness of the keloid.
Irritation from rubbing or friction on clothes can cause flare-ups.
Limited mobility: When the keloid is extensive after burns or injuries, keloids can limit the mobility of the body parts due to contractures of the skin and its tissues.
Psychological distress: In cases, where the keloids are very large or disfiguring, they tend to affect the person emotionally.
Disease & Ayurveda
Keloid – Charmakushtha
Nidana
An unwholesome diet with opposite potency
Improper routine and behaviour
Teasing and humiliating other good people
Theft
Bad deeds which cause emotional stress factors like repentance/fear/anxiety
Kapha-Vaatadoshakopanidana – causes for vitiation of all the kapha and Vaatadosha
Purvaaroopa
Absence of sweating
Loss of tactile sensation
Samprapti
Due to the causative factors, vitiated doshas (mainly kapha& Vaata) vitiate rasadhatu and reaches the skin. It settles on the skin and develops into thick and hard skin rashes.
Lakshana
Hasticharma – thick skin like that of an elephant
Kharasparsam – Hard/rough to touch
Divisions
Not mentioned
Prognosis
Akrichram or yaapyam
Chikithsa
Samana
Pralepa with lekhanadravya
Sodhana
Snehana
Swedana
Virechana
Ksharakarma
Commonly used medicines
Nisothamadi kwatham
Mahatiktakaghrutam
Nimbamruthadi erandatailam
Rasamanikyam
Brands available
AVS Kottakal
AVP Coimbatore
Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala
Home remedies
No home remedy is found completely beneficial in keloids. But the application of the following, have found helpful in thinning the scar in some people.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Onion juice
- Garlic paste
- Lemon juice
Diet
- To be avoided
Red meat, fried non-veg items, and seafood
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
Junk foods and spicy food- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)
Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods
Green gram, soups, buttermilk boiled with turmeric, ginger and curry leaves
Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc
Behaviour:
Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Be active.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Avoid forcing or holding of natural urges like urine, faeces, vomiting, hiccups etc.
Avoid Stress and emotional imbalance as much as possible.
Yoga
Ardha mathsyentra asanam
Halasanam
Vakrasanam
Dhanurasanam
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Research articles
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12680802/
Author information
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