MadSci Network: Medicine |
Hi Beth, Keloid formation is a skin reaction to injury in certain individuals. Basically, the healing process occurs in a slightly abnormal way, leading to an increase in the cells which form collagen, and hence a local increase in the amount of collagen, or fibrous "scar" tissue, which is quite hard and thick. I'm not certain why some people have this tendency, but it is known to be more common in negroid than fair-skinned races. Best wishes Doc C-P
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