Skin conditions · By referral
Raised, thickened scars can be itchy, tender, or simply bothersome to look at. Steroid injections can flatten and soften keloid and hypertrophic scars over a series of treatments.
Some scars heal flat, and others build up extra collagen and become raised. A hypertrophic scar stays within the borders of the original wound, while a keloid grows beyond it. Both are common on the chest, shoulders, and earlobes (often after piercing), and both can be itchy or tender. They are harmless, but they can be uncomfortable and unwelcome. There is more background in the keloid scars handout.
A small amount of corticosteroid is injected directly into the scar. It calms the inflammation and slows the excess collagen that keeps the scar raised, so the scar gradually flattens and softens and any itch or tenderness tends to settle. Treatment is usually a series of injections spaced a few weeks apart rather than a single visit, and progress is reviewed as you go.
Your visit starts with a look at the scar and a discussion of what is realistic. The injections themselves are quick, with brief stinging. Results build gradually over the treatment series, and stubborn or long-standing scars can take several sessions. Treatment tends to work best when a scar is addressed relatively early, though established keloids can still improve.
Keloid and scar injections are seen by referral. Keloids on the head and neck (including the earlobes) are covered by MSP; keloids elsewhere on the body are a private cost (see the cost guide). Either way, ask your family doctor, nurse practitioner, or a walk-in clinic to send a referral to Dr. Baldwin at Hillside Medical Clinic in Victoria or Kensington Medical Clinic in Burnaby, and the clinic will contact you to arrange an appointment.
Wondering about cost? See the full guide: What Do Keloid Injections Cost?