Hypertrophic scars and keloids are scars that become elevated and often reddened after skin injury. They can occur following trauma to the skin or after a surgical incision. They are more common on the chest, upper back and shoulders and are more common in black individuals than other races. Though often unsightly cosmetically, they can also be symptomatic with itchiness or tenderness. Hypertrophic scars sometimes decrease in size over time and flatten down, whereas keloids do not usually have this tendency. Keloids tend to increase in size with time. There are treatment options that can help decrease the size and symptoms of hypertrophic scars and keloids, such as corticosteroid injections into the scar.
