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| - Last Updated on May 7, 2024 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A YouTube video suggests using toothpaste for keloids. The woman claims that toothpaste can cure a keloid scar within 3 days. We did the fact check and found out it is false.
The Claim
According to a YouTube video, you can use toothpaste for treating keloids. The YouTuber claims that the keloid scar will go away within 3 days of regular application.
Fact Check
What are Keloids?
Keloids happen when skin doesn’t heal normally after it’s been hurt or inflamed. They develop because of genes and environmental factors. People with darker skin, especially those of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent, are more likely to get keloids. The reason for keloids is that certain cells in the skin make too much collagen and stuff that helps the skin grow. Doctors can see these cells when they look at a tiny piece of the skin under a microscope. Keloids feel like hard, rubbery lumps where the skin got hurt before. Unlike normal scars, keloids can spread out from where the skin got injured. Sometimes they can be painful, itchy, or burn. There are different ways to treat keloids, but none of them work perfectly for everyone.
Is it true that toothpaste can treat Keloid scars?
No, toothpaste cannot treat keloid scars. We found no scientific evidence or medical information about the effectiveness of toothpaste for keloids. Toothpaste cannot penetrate the skin to cause any effect. In an attempt to treat keloids at home patients can actually do more harm to their skin. Because these ingredients may not be suitable to use on skin.
We checked with Dr Saumya Sachdeva, Dermatologist, about effectiveness of toothpaste for keloids. She said, “Toothpaste does not cure hypertrophic scars or keloids. Instead, it may irritate the skin, potentially increasing the risk of developing contact dermatitis.”
Furthermore, if you found these home remedies effective, your keloid is more likely to come back. This is because keloids differ from typical bodily injuries. Hence, keloid scars require professional medical care with appropriate follow-ups. This is important to avoid potential recurrence or complications arising from treatments.
Can Keloids be treated at home?
No, keloids cannot be effectively treated at home. While some self-care measures such as following wound care instructions, using specific creams or gels to alleviate itching, and protecting the skin from sun exposure can help in managing keloids. Treatment generally requires medical intervention. Professional treatments like corticosteroid injections, cryotherapy, surgical excision, radiotherapy, and laser therapy are often necessary to address keloid scars. Toothpaste for keloid scars holds no relevance in the medical community.
What causes Keloids?
Keloids can result from various types of skin injuries, such as acne scars, burns, chickenpox scars, ear piercings, scratches, surgical incisions, and vaccination sites. About 10% of people experience keloid scarring, with no significant difference between people of all genders. Those with darker skin tones are more susceptible to keloids. They are particularly common in individuals of Asian or Latin descent, pregnant individuals, and those younger than 30 years old.
Keloids often have a genetic factor, which means you are more likely to develop them if you have a family history. Research suggests that the AHNAK gene may influence keloid development. Also, having a keloid in the past raises your likelihood of getting a keloid. If you have risk factors for keloid formation, it may be advisable to avoid body piercings, elective surgeries, and tattoos.
What is the treatment for Keloid scars?
We will discuss the keloid cure finally. Widespread health misinformation on social media has made people trust keloid treatment at home. But, that’s not true. The symptoms can only be managed at home and not treated. Keloid treatment requires professional medical care by a qualified doctor. Following are the keloid treatment options:
- Compression therapy: Compression dressings for 12 to 24 hours daily over 4 to 6 months help mitigate newer keloids. This works by applying pressure during the healing process.
- Corticosteroid cream: Prescription-strength corticosteroid creams reduce itchiness associated with keloids.
- Injected medicine: Smaller keloids may undergo thickness reduction via cortisone or other steroid injections. They are often administered monthly for up to 6 months.
- Freezing the scar: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze small keloids, possibly requiring repeat treatments. Side effects may include blistering, pain, and hypopigmentation.
- LASER treatment: Laser sessions flatten larger keloids and can ease itchiness. The treatment happens over multiple sessions with 4 to 8 weeks intervals. Combining laser therapy with cortisone injections is a viable option. Possible side effects include hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, blistering, and crusting, with increased occurrence in individuals with darker skin.
- Radiation therapy: Low-level X-ray radiation, either alone or post-surgical removal, helps in shrinking keloid scar tissue. Repeat treatments may be necessary, with potential side effects such as skin complications and, in the long term, cancer risks.
- Surgical removal: For keloids resistant to other treatments, surgical removal combined with other methods may be recommended. However, surgery alone has a recurrence rate ranging from 45% to 100%.
We also have other stories about Keloids: Do Keloids exhibit cancer symptoms? Can you get rid of Keloids naturally? Can waxing cause Keloid scars in females?
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