A 33-year-old member asked:
Should i rub alcohol on a piercing daily to help prevent keloids?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Stephen Pincusanswered
Facial Plastic Surgery 53 years experience
No: Keloids result from an excessive bodily reaction to a wound. Unlike normal healing which lays down scar tissue(collagen) to close a wound, a keloid forms when the degree & magnitude of this process is excessive. And unlike a hypertrophic scar which is an excessive amount of scar tissue within the confines of the injury, a keloid results when the process extends into the normal surrounding tissue.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Randolph Wonganswered
Plastic Surgery 47 years experience
Perhaps: Alcohol may be useful in removing excess oils that can cause inflammation, the trigger for keloid growth, but your local immune response is what triggers the collagen production to grow keloids. I have seen keloids shrink and flatten with carboxytherapy. Other effective methods may include steroid injections, or surgery.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Jul 15, 2020
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits - just $39!
50% off with $15/month membership
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.