Keloid scars are difficult to treat through surgery because surgical keloid removal can also lead to the formation of scar tissue and recurrence is very high. For this reason, it may be a good idea to look for non surgical options to treat this type of scar tissue.

Luckily, there are several non surgical options to help you deal with keloid scars. Any one of these can be used on their own or in combination with each other as well as with surgery. Non surgical alternatives include:

*Corticosteroid injections, also known as cortisone

*Silicone Sheets

*Compression Therapy and Compression Devices

*Laser Therapy

*Cryotherapy

Among the options listed above, corticosteriods are the most common treatment for keloids. Steroid injections help flatten keloids. They become less apparent even though the scar tissue may still feel different than the surrounding skin.

This type of treatment can be used before and after keloid scar removal or, if need be, it can also be used during the surgical procedure to help reduce the appearance of keloids. Their use will depend on the individual's predisposition to developing keloids.

Silicone sheets are also used frequently to flatten all types of scars, not just keloids. These sheets should be worn for a few hours every day to keep keloid scars from forming.

Silicone sheets are sold OTC and can be cut down to size so that they fit the size of the scar being treated. Despite their success rate, they aren't as effective as compression therapy.

Compression therapy has been around for decades to help treat keloids and hypertrophic or raised scars. Compression devices are usually custom fitted and worn for 24 hours or up to a year.

Laser therapy is another effective keloid scar treatment that uses a pulsed dye laser to flatten the scar. This procedure can also help eliminate the redness that is common with keloid scars.

Carbon dioxide lasers can also be used to treat keloids and to help reduce the recurrence of keloid formation. Consult with your doctor about the right type of laser therapy for you.

Lastly, cryotherapy is a type of treatment used to treat smaller scars and scars that are in hard-to-reach areas. With this type of treatment liquid nitrogen is used to flatten the affected tissue, but be wary because it can make the treated area look darker than the surrounding tissue.