[Treatment methods of keloid and hypertrophic scar formation]

Hypertrophic scar and keloid are diagnoses based on clinical symptoms. Hypertrophic scar is an unacceptably enlarged scar, within the boundaries of the original wound; whereas keloid is an unacceptably enlarged scar infiltrating the surrounding tissue. Hypertrophic scar and keloid belong to the same category of diseases, characterized by increased collagen development. The treatments employed are compression, excision, corticosteroid injections and irradiation. New medical treatments affecting the collagen metabolism such as colchicin, beta-amino-proprionitrite (BAPN), D-penicillamine, cytostatics and prostaglandin-inhibitors have been introduced with promising results and fewer side effects.