Question 1

What is the difference between a keloid and a mole?

Accepted Answer

Mole is a growth made of pigment cells. A keloid is thickened skin from over production of collagen, at a site of acne surgery or piercing.

Question 2

Keloid or mole, how can i tell?

Accepted Answer

Keloids don't happen spontaneously. They result from some kind of skin trauma; a cut, a tattoo or a surgery. If there is no history of these type of events it is more likely a mole. Your pcp, dermatologist or plastic surgeon could tell by looking at the area.

Question 3

I had a mole removed from my abs and margins were cleared. it then formed a keloid. am i good, or do i have to return? what should i look out for?

Accepted Answer

Keloids are enlarged scars that are larger than the original wound. They  form for unknown reasons and are generally harmless but can become itchy or uncomfortable.  If your keloid is bothersome for you, then there a variety of treatment options that are available to you.  If it does not bother you, then you can leave it and not worry about it.

Question 4

How long after a mole removal would a keloid start to grow? can it take years?

Accepted Answer

keloid formation is unpredictable , usually will happens with in couple of months , and usual to from from keloids from old healed scars.

Question 5

Will a big mole on central chest surgically removed leave a hypertrophic or keloid scarc? what are the risk factors?

Accepted Answer

This is best determined by examining your other scars. If you tend to develop raised, red scars, you are more likely to continue. 
Areas on the central chest tend to have more tension when closed, meaning the scar is more likely to spread a bit (creating a slightly wider scar). 
You can decrease scar hypertrophy by massaging it beginning at 2 weeks after healing and by wearing sunscreen.

Question 6

I have a flat pink scar on my face from mole removal, how to i reduce redness and as i am prone to keloids is there any chance it could develop to one?

Accepted Answer

I think that the best topical cream is avosil.  This scar could be lightened with a pulsed dye laser.  There is always a possibility of a scar thickening but it is extremely unlikely to form a  keloid scar in the mid face.

Question 7

I got a mole by my right eye completely removed 4 yrs ago. i just noticed a bump which i'm not sure is the mole growing back or a keloid. insight?

Accepted Answer

A keloid would generally appear much earlier than 4 years after mole removal. I would suggest returning to the physician who originally removed the mole to have the area examined.

Good luck!

Question 8

Scar revision or laser treatment? what's best? for keloid scar, also have a mole on the scar tissue

Accepted Answer

I have not seen impressive results with laser treatment of keloids but perhaps other colleagues have. Furthermore the mole concerns me even more. If this is new, it should be excised for diagnostic purposes. Otherwise keloid treatment is usually initiated with steroid injections, .

Question 9

I had a vulva biopsy on a mole, something went wrong, i have elevated skin that is painful-  i was told it was not a keloid scar, but may need to see a plastic surgeon-  what happened to result in this?

Accepted Answer

Without knowing what you have, it is pretty much impossible to say what caused it.

Question 10

What is the best way to treat keloids on my head?

Accepted Answer

Keloids can be problematic, particularly if enlarging, are painful or itch, or ulcerated and bleed. For small ones silicone sheeting or gels may help decrease redness and height, but there is very little you can do on your own. Treatment typically requires steroid injections, excision with repair, or a combination of both.

What is the difference between a keloid and a mole