Face Keloids among African Americanss

Primary Nodular/Tumoral Facial Keloids:

Continuous growth of nodular keloids in individuals with black skin will lead to the formation of large and tumoral keloids. These keloids are race specific and are only seen among Africans, African Americans and in those with Black skin. This phenotype is most likely due to a unique genotype that is not only different from milder forms of keloid disorder but also nonexistent among Caucasians and Asians. Although uncommon on the face, presence of tumoral keloids on the face results in constant anxiety and depression.

Aftermath of Surgery:

Treatment of facial keloids, much like most other keloids should be limited to medical treatments, utilizing topical cryotherapy and intra-lesional injection of steroids, or chemotherapy drugs. As you will notice here, the most severe cases of facial keloids are seen in individuals with black skin who have undergone surgery for removal of their facial keloids. Surgery is almost exclusively performed on Africans/African Americans in order to remove facial keloid lesions.

Better understanding of the underlying genetics and pathophysiology of keloid disorder should dissuade surgeons from performing surgery, not only on facial keloids but also on any kind of keloid lesion.

Severe Facial Keloids:

Severe and extensive facial keloids are not only race specific, but more importantly, they are Iatrogenic. The worst cases of facial keloids are exclusively seen in Africans, African Americans who have had prior keloid surgery (is) for treatment of facial keloid, much like other patients with massive keloids elsewhere in their body. As stated earlier in this book, keloids should not, and cannot be treated with surgery. A great number of keloid patients are simply harmed by surgery, especially those who have keloids elsewhere on their skin.