Free full text on www.ijps.org CME Keloids and hypertrophic scars: a review

K eloids and Hypertrophic scars (HSc) are dermal fibroproliferative disorders unique to humans that occur following trauma, inflammation, surgery, burns and sometimes spontaneously. These are characterized by excesses deposition of collagen in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissues. Contrary to the fine­ line scar characteristics of normal wound repair, the exuberant scarring of keloid and HSc results typically in disfigurement, contractures, pruritis and pain. Keloids occur in individuals with a familial disposition among the Blacks, Hispanics and Orientals, they enlarge and extend beyond the margins of the original wound and rarely regress [Figure 1]. HSc are raised, erythematous, pruritic, fibrous lesions that typically remain within the confines of the original wound, usually undergo at least partial spontaneous resolution over widely varying time courses, and are often associated with contractures of healing tissues [Figure 2].