When I first got my keloid, I thought it was bad luck.
A stubborn scar that decided to grow a personality. I blamed my genetics, the piercing, the cheap jewelry, even the weather.
But then something strange happened.
There were days when it looked smaller. Softer. Less inflamed.
And other days? It flared like it had something to prove.
So I started paying closer attention.
Not to the scar creams. Not to the steroid injections.
But to my sleep, my stress, and my food.
What I found shocked me.
🤯 Your Keloid Is More Than a Scar—It’s a Symptom
Here’s the thing no one told me (and maybe no one told you, either):
Keloids aren’t just the result of trauma. They’re a response to your internal environment.
In plain English?
It’s not just what you put on your skin—it’s what’s happening inside your body that can keep that scar active, itchy, raised, and red.
And the top 3 internal triggers?
➡️ Poor sleep
➡️ Chronic stress
➡️ Blood sugar swings from food
Let’s break them down.
😴 1. Sleep: The Silent Healer You’re Probably Ignoring
Most of us treat sleep like a luxury. Something you “get around to” when you’ve finished binge-watching or scrolling or working late.
But your skin sees it differently.
During deep sleep, your body:
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Produces growth hormone (which repairs tissue)
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Clears out inflammatory waste
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Regulates cortisol, the stress hormone that can make scars flare
When you don’t sleep enough—or your sleep quality is trash?
Your body stays in low-grade stress mode. That’s when keloids get worse:
Raised, itchy, darker. Like your skin’s saying, “Hey, I need rest too.”
👉 Pro tip: Start tracking your keloid after nights of 7+ hours of uninterrupted sleep. You might see changes within days.
😩 2. Stress: The Invisible Trigger That Feeds Inflammation
Let’s get one thing clear:
Your keloid isn’t just reacting to the environment. It’s reacting to your nervous system.
Every time you’re overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally triggered, your body releases cortisol. In short bursts, it’s helpful. But when cortisol stays elevated?
It can:
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Suppress proper wound healing
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Delay tissue remodeling
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Increase collagen production in abnormal ways
Translation?
Stress can literally fuel keloid growth—especially if you already have one.
I noticed it the week of a family fight. My keloid swelled, turned red, and throbbed for two days. No new products. Just stress. Loud and clear.
🍩 3. Food: What You Eat Might Be Feeding the Scar
No, this isn’t a fearmongering “don’t eat carbs” article.
But there is truth in the connection between food and inflammation—and keloids are, at their core, inflammatory growths.
Here’s what I learned from 30 days of tracking:
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Sugar spikes = flare-ups
The more sugar I ate (especially alone, like a donut for breakfast), the angrier the keloid got the next day. -
Dairy? Depends.
Some days it made no difference. Other days, especially cheese-heavy meals, left me itchy. (Maybe histamine-related.) -
Anti-inflammatory foods helped.
Salmon. Berries. Olive oil. Turmeric. Even green tea. These didn’t shrink the scar, but they calmed it. Less redness. Less pulsing. Less irritation.
You don’t need to eat like a monk. But if your diet is 90% takeout and caffeine… your scar is living in chaos.
🧘🏽♀️ Okay, So Now What?
You don’t need a 10-step detox plan. You just need awareness—and small changes that help your body stop fighting itself.
Start here:
✅ Prioritize sleep over screen time—your scar will thank you
✅ Practice micro-relaxation daily (even 5 minutes of deep breathing)
✅ Swap processed sugar for fruit or dark chocolate when you can
✅ Keep a short keloid journal—notice patterns after poor sleep or stress days
✅ Add anti-inflammatory foods slowly instead of cutting everything out
💡 Final Thought: The Scar Is Listening
We’re taught to treat keloids like isolated defects.
But your skin is not separate from your system. It is your system.
When you’re burned out, inflamed, and overwhelmed, your skin knows. And your keloid—unfortunately—might become the loudest messenger.
So if nothing topical is working?
Maybe it’s time to ask not what else you can apply, but what your body needs less of.
Less stress.
Less sugar.
Less sleep deprivation disguised as “grind.”
Maybe healing your keloid starts with healing the rest of you.
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