I walked into the dermatologist’s office expecting another prescription, another cream, another “just try this for 8 weeks and see.”
Instead, I got a mirror.
Not the kind that shows you your reflection—
The kind that shows you the truth you’ve been avoiding.
Because after three years of steroid injections, silicone gels, and “gentle” skincare routines, my keloid still wouldn’t quit.
And that’s when my doctor asked:
“Do you… touch it often?”
I froze.
Because deep down, I knew the answer.
Yes.
All the time. Without thinking. While watching TV. While on Zoom calls. While scrolling. Even in my sleep.
I had no idea that this one unconscious habit—physically touching or picking at my keloid—was one of the biggest reasons it kept growing.
🧠 The Habit That Feels Harmless… But Isn’t
Here’s the thing about touching your keloid:
It doesn’t hurt.
It doesn’t bleed.
It feels weirdly comforting, like a security blanket made of scar tissue.
But every time you do it—consciously or not—you’re triggering microtrauma.
What’s microtrauma?
Tiny, repeated physical stress to a specific area that may not leave a wound… but still activates the skin’s healing response.
And with keloids? That’s a problem.
Because their biggest issue is healing gone overboard.
🔁 The Cycle I Didn’t Know I Was Caught In
Let me break it down, because this blew my mind:
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You touch or press your keloid (often without noticing)
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The skin gets slightly irritated—maybe it gets warm or itchy
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Your body thinks: Oh no, there’s damage—send in the collagen crew!
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Fibroblasts show up and make more scar tissue
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Keloid gets bigger, puffier, or darker
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You feel self-conscious → touch it more → repeat cycle
I wasn’t dealing with an “angry” scar.
I was dealing with a scar I kept accidentally poking the bear of.
😳 Why Touching Becomes a Habit
Touching your keloid doesn’t always feel like picking.
Sometimes it’s just:
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Rubbing it absentmindedly
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Checking if it’s getting smaller (spoiler: it’s not)
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Trying to flatten it with pressure
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Scratching because it itches (which makes it itch more)
And for some of us, especially if we have body-focused repetitive behaviors (like nail biting or skin picking), it becomes a form of self-soothing.
But keloids are not stress balls.
They’re hypersensitive scars. And they don’t forget.
🧴 What My Doctor Told Me To Do Instead
Once I admitted the habit, my doctor didn’t shame me.
They simply said,
“We need to break the cycle. Not with a product—but with awareness.”
Here’s what actually helped me stop:
✅ 1. Cover It at Home (But Comfortably)
I wore a soft bandage or silicone patch—not for treatment, but as a physical barrier to remind me not to touch.
✅ 2. Keep My Hands Busy
I got a fidget ring. Started knitting. Used a grounding stone.
Whatever works—just don’t let idle hands wander to your skin.
✅ 3. Track My Triggers
I noticed I touched my keloid more when I was:
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Stressed
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Tired
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On phone calls
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Deep in overthinking
Knowing the triggers helped me prep for them. Like putting on a patch before a stressful meeting.
✅ 4. Give It Attention… In Other Ways
Instead of touch, I started giving it gentle affirmations, like:
“I see you. I know you’re trying to protect me. But you can rest now.”
It sounds woo-woo. But it worked.
🧠 Final Thought: It’s Not About Blame—It’s About Breakthroughs
I spent years blaming my products.
Blaming my body.
Blaming my genetics.
But sometimes healing starts with a mirror.
Not the kind in your bathroom—
The kind that reflects your habits, your coping mechanisms, your subconscious behaviors.
If you’ve tried every treatment and your keloid keeps growing…
Ask yourself:
“Am I unintentionally feeding it?”
If the answer is yes, don’t panic.
Just pause.
And start building new habits that don’t involve self-sabotage disguised as soothing.
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