People Suffering From Keloid Scars

Keloid patients may need to deal with some minor or
more drastic effects associated with the occurrence
of keloid scars. Those lucky ones with a small
scar can hope that it will go unnoticed.
Without questions, keloids have become a
therapeutic challenge that must be dealt with, as
these lesions can be a source of significant pain,
pruritus (itching), and physical disfigurement.
They may not get worse/better in appearance over
time but can definitely inflict pain and sometimes
even limit mobility.
In severe cases, it can reduce the flexibility and
hence the movement of skin on the neck, shoulders.
and joints – jaws, elbows, and knee caps. They have
the capability to hurt with a needle-like pain or
to cause severe itching without warning.
However, these physical discomforts/impairments
cannot be compared with the psychological effects
these often disfiguring lesions have on affected
individuals.During the course of face-to-face and
telephone interviews, patients were asked how
keloids and keloid therapy may have affected their
personal and social lives. This preliminary inquiry
suggests that careful counseling may prove
worthwhile for such patients.

Keloid scars can have profound social and
psychological effects.

Most recently, reports from patients and medical
professionals have revealed the impact keloids have
on a patient's psyche. The following are some of
the problems that victims of keloids may face.

Self esteem and body image

- Some embarrassed keloid patients avoid looking
people in the eye.
- Some keloid sufferers grow their hair long to
cover that part of their face where it is affected
– earlobes and neck.
- Keloid scars on shoulders, chest, and limbs can
reduce participation in sport such as swimming or
rugby because of the necessity to disrobe in public
changing rooms.
- Social withdrawal/relationship building
- A keloid scar, especially when it affects the
face and neck, can provoke cruel comments from the
general public.
- Sensitive to their disfigurement, some find it
hard to form new relationships, especially with the
opposite sex. They become shy and even reclusive.
The main concern is a fear of negative appraisal by
others. in extreme cases a social phobia can
develop.

Education/work

- Students refuse to go to school leading to poor
academic performance and possibly future
unemployment.
- Some adults in the workplace take sick days from
work, risking their jobs or livelihood.
- Keloids may limit career choices, ruling out
occupations such as modelling that depend upon
personal appearance.
- Keloid patients are less successful in job
applications; their lack of confidence being as
important as the potential employers' reaction to
their physical appearances.
- More people who have keloids are unemployed than
those who don't have such blemishes.
- Many keloid victims seek medical help as they
hope to remain in school or the workforce, where
they perceive that a keloid scar is unacceptable by
society.

Depression

In some patients the distress of having a keloid
may result in depression. This must be recognised
and managed. Signs of depression include:
- behavioral problems
- no craving for food
- mood swings
- lack of enthusiasm to do anything
- bursting into tears with no provocation
- no self worth
- insomnia