This Scar Kept Growing — The Hidden Truth About Keloids That Even Your Dermatologist Might Not Mention

 

This Scar Kept Growing — The Hidden Truth About Keloids That Even Your Dermatologist Might Not Mention

It started as a tiny bump.
A healing scar from what was barely a scratch.
I did what everyone does — kept it clean, applied ointment, and waited for it to fade.

But it didn’t fade.
It grew.

Week by week, the smooth scar became a raised, rubbery knot. It turned red, then dark. It itched, ached, and worst of all — wouldn’t stop growing.

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever dealt with a keloid, you already know: this isn’t just “a scar.”
It’s a mystery… one that grows on your skin and grows in your mind with every failed treatment, every strange look, every dismissive doctor visit.

And yet — most people, even doctors, don’t talk about what’s really behind them.

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So What Is a Keloid, Really?

Technically, a keloid is an “overgrowth of scar tissue.”

In real life?
It’s a scar that doesn’t know when to stop healing.

It’s like your skin’s emergency response system goes into overdrive — piling on collagen as if it’s racing against some invisible threat… long after the danger has passed.

That tiny scratch? It’s over.
But your body doesn’t get the memo.

Instead of flattening out, the scar keeps climbing — outward, upward, bigger than the original wound ever was.

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The Shocking Truth Most Dermatologists Won’t Say Out Loud

Here’s where things get frustrating.
Most doctors will hand you a steroid cream or suggest cortisone shots. Maybe even laser therapy or surgical removal.

But almost no one sits you down and tells you the actual emotional and biological complexity of a keloid.

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:

Keloids aren’t just about skin. They’re about how your entire system responds to trauma.

They’re deeply connected to:

• Your genetic code (some ethnicities are more prone — especially people of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent)

• Hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy, even stress spikes)

• Inflammation levels in the body

• And — surprisingly — even your emotional response to wounds

It’s a systemic overreaction wrapped in a scar.

Yet most treatments focus only on the surface.

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Why It Feels Like No One Gets It

The worst part of having a keloid isn’t the scar itself.
It’s the way people respond to it — or don’t.

You get used to shirts that cover it. Poses that hide it. Quick explanations like “Oh, it’s just an old scar” when someone’s eyes linger a little too long.

But inside? It’s exhausting.
Because the scar becomes more than a skin thing.
It becomes a you thing.

“Why won’t it go away?”
“What’s wrong with my body?”
“Am I going to have to live with this forever?”

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What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Sooner

Here’s the truth I wish every dermatologist, every friend, every Google search result had just told me:

You didn’t do anything wrong. And you’re not alone.

Keloids are not a failure of hygiene or skincare.
They’re not your fault.
They’re your body reacting in a way it thinks is protective — even when it’s not helpful.

And yes, they’re stubborn. But they’re not invincible.

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What Actually Helped (And What Didn’t)

Here’s my down-to-earth, no-BS list of what I tried over the course of 3 years:

✅ Silicone sheets – These helped flatten the keloid slightly over several months. But consistency was everything.
✅ Cortisone injections – Painful, but temporarily effective. My keloid shrank… and then flared up again months later.
✅ Tension-relief taping – Helped reduce mechanical stress around the scar. Not a cure, but surprisingly helpful for new keloids.
✅ Anti-inflammatory diet – Shockingly, this made a difference. Less sugar, more turmeric, more omega-3s. When I reduced internal inflammation, the itching and growth slowed.
❌ Surgical removal – My biggest regret. It grew back bigger and angrier. If you’re considering this, get multiple opinions.
❌ “Miracle” creams online – Don’t waste your money.

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Final Thoughts: It’s a Scar, Not a Flaw

If you’re dealing with a keloid right now — whether it’s on your chest, your earlobe, your shoulder, or somewhere you keep hidden — I see you.

This scar is real.
But so is your strength.

And the truth doctors don’t always say?
You’re allowed to want it gone — and still accept yourself as you are.
Both things can be true.

You don’t need to “just get over it.”
You deserve information. Options. Support.
And most of all, compassion.

Even from your own reflection.