Some of these are still growing and L.L. asks Lifeline what can be done to treat these growths and prevent them from worsening. She says that the area above her breasts is really unattractive and she is unable to wear low-cut dresses or tops because of the ugly scars.

A keloid refers to a firm to hard excessive overgrowth of fibrous dermal tissue which may or may not be associated with a history of preceding trauma. They are thought to be the result of imperfect healing after some insult to the skin. This could be an insect bite, an abrasion, skin which has been itched, a laceration or no identified cause. An inadequate suboptimal supply of oxygen and nutrients to the injured area are usually blamed. Keloids can also occur in areas of skin affected by acne.

People of Black origin are more likely to develop keloid scars then any other ethnic group and the upper back, shoulders and chest are the most common sites. Acne keloid scars tend to occur after severe acne with abscess formation and the acne scars (keloiding) can be seen over the back of the neck and scalp and result in permanent hair loss to the affected area. Treatment may involve injecting the keloid scars with the steroid Triamcinolone at repeated intervals. This usually results in flattening and fading of the swellings with varying degrees of success.