Keloids in Ibadan

Cases of keloids seen in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, over a ten-year period have been reviewed. The sex distribution of cases is equal and there is no relationship between the duration of keloid and the predisposing factor responsible for keloid formation. The incubation period of these cases has been very short. The behaviour of keloids following surgery and the age of occurrence of the lesion suggest an immune reaction to an allergen as being important in the natural history of this disease. This allergen is most likely to be a normal constituent of the dermis that has been affected by the trauma. Damaged collagen fits such a possibility. The results of treatment of keloids are still very disappointing.