My keloid update | 1 steroid injection, 4 ultrasounds

It has been almost 6 weeks after my last steroid injection with a new doctor in Pasadena. He mixed the steroid with anesthetic to ease out the pain. But honestly I have been getting steroid injections without any anesthetic, and I'm totally ok with it. The pain isn't that bad. In the past, my doctor in Thailand has told me that anesthetic would counter the effect of steroid and it wouldn't work. I believe that is true, because I don't see much result this time. From my experience the amount of injection has to be generous enough that it would flatten the keloid and also prevent it from growing back. Because remember any trauma to the area would cause more keloid to grow and even a small needle incision is also a trauma.

After that shot in December, I had to wait 2 weeks before I can get ultrasound treatment done, which was done every week (it has been 4 treatments since). The doctor said it would help soften the keloid and also makes the steroid work faster. I'm not sure if this is working. Right after every treatment the skin around the keloid would start to itch really bad. Right now my keloid seems to be more red than before. And the area on top is starting to grow thicker. This starts to worry me. I have another appointment again this Friday. I will have to show these photos to the doctor. I'll let you know how it goes.

(click to see full size image)

timeline of my keloid

Take a Keloid Survey

This study intends to provide a better understanding about keloids, distribution of various types of keloids, as well as response to different treatments. This study is conducted as a survey. If you would like to participate in this survey, please click on the link below to go directly to the survey questions.
http://keloidsurvey.com

What's the fuzz about BETNOVATE cream?

The doctor I went to see in Thailand has given me this cream, he kept asking me every time when I saw him if I been using the cream. At first I didn't really care for this cream because from my experience cream don't really work on keloid. But one day I decided to try this. It actually soothing to the scar. It reduce the itchiness a lot and it also makes the scar feels softer. It's not really a cream for scar but it helps with the itchiness. I would only use this only on the days that I don't put Cica-care on. Because Cica-care won't stick anymore if you put it on oily skin.

Betnovate Cream (Betamethasone valerate BP 0.1% w/w) Betnovate is used to treat eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and other skin conditions. 

Cica Care | My life saver

A lot of people think this does not work for them. But for me this is my life saver. I use Cica-Care on my keloid between each injection. It doesn't get rid of the scar but it makes my day to day activity more bearable. The gel sheet also has light steroid on it so it helps with the itchiness around the area. It also protect my scar if I ever accidental bump it on to something. You know how painful that is. I put this on my shoulder and secure it with a bunch of band-aids. Since my keloid is on the shoulder, this minimize the movement of the skin around the scar. So it slow down the spreading process.  

Keloid, It's growing!

After I told my husband that my scar is growing. He did not believe me so I have to do something to prove this. You can see from the photos that my scar is growing vertically. Part of it because of steroid injection I got. If the injection is too close to the border of the keloid, it would make the keloid spread. Usually inexperienced doctors often make this mistake and won't admit it. My mom has taken me to plastic surgeon since I was 10. I have had several injections from many doctors. Many of them caused the keloid to spread. I can already tell from the first injection if the doctor really knows what's he or she doing.

{click on the photo to see it large!}

Aug 22-Sep 10 - after a couple injections and lasers I got in Santa Monica. Did not work well with this doctor. His injection caused the keloid to spread. I decided to stop the treatment with him. 

Oct 22 - after a couple steroid injections I got in Thailand during my vacation. Really good doctor! Amazing result!! The bottom and middle areas are completely flat. Too bad I can't go back there every month. 

Dec 10 - The doctor in Thailand refers me to this new doctor I'm seeing in Pasadena. So I'm going to see how this works. This photo has taken after one steroid injection and couple more ultrasounds. The top part is still spreading. I need to show this photos to the doctor. 

First Post

Dear friends

I'm Miss Keloid. My keloid defines me as a person. It been a life long scar of mine. It never been a moment that I feel completely free of my scar. I always feels it. It's right there on my shoulder. It's itchy. It's painful. It's growing everyday. It's a big secret of my life. I rarely tell people about my keloid, because a few people I have told in the past think I have cancer (how ignorant). It's really hard for normal people to understand what keloid is, especially when it's growing. People raise eye browns and think I'm crazy to not try to fix this. But they don't know that there is no cure for keloid.

It been so long...since last time I ever worn a sleeveless, enjoyed going to a swimming pool,  and got a good night sleep on the left side. Growing up experience has been painful. I used to get hit on the shoulder all the time because other kids think I pretend to cry. Part of this makes it hard for me to trust people. I'm pretty sure some of you who have keloid like me do share the same feeling...

my scar right before a first steroid shot in 5 years