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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
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Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue
Published on: July 28, 2023
The Association Between Race/Ethnicity and Keloid Formation: A Network Meta-Analysis
Hui Jie Gwen Farm1, Aaryan Dwivedi1, Damoon Ranjbar1
1Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Plastic Surgery (Oakville, Ont.)
|August 12, 2026
Summary
Keloid formation is significantly more common in Black and Asian individuals compared to White individuals. This study highlights race as a key risk factor for keloids, informing prevention and equitable care strategies.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Keloids are benign fibroproliferative skin lesions resulting from abnormal wound healing.
- Keloid formation prevalence varies significantly across racial and ethnic groups, yet data remain fragmented.
- Understanding these disparities is crucial for targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively compare the prevalence of keloid formation across diverse racial and ethnic groups.
- To identify specific racial and ethnic groups with higher odds of developing keloids.
- To inform clinical practice and public health initiatives regarding keloid risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search to identify studies reporting keloid prevalence by race and ethnicity.
- Network meta-analysis of eight studies (31,964 keloids, 373,390 nonkeloids) for racial comparisons.
- Pairwise meta-analysis of four studies for ethnic comparisons (Hispanic/Latinx vs. non-Hispanic/Latinx).
Main Results:
- Black individuals exhibited the highest odds of keloid formation compared to White individuals (OR = 6.14).
- Asian individuals also showed significantly higher odds of keloid formation compared to White individuals (OR = 3.70).
- No statistically significant difference in keloid prevalence was observed between Hispanic/Latinx and non-Hispanic/Latinx groups (OR = 1.12), though the analysis was underpowered.
Conclusions:
- Race is a significant risk factor for keloid development, with Black and Asian populations showing increased susceptibility.
- While ethnicity did not show a statistically significant association, further research with larger sample sizes is warranted.
- Findings underscore the need for race-conscious approaches in keloid prevention, patient counseling, and healthcare delivery to ensure equitable care.