# Comprehensive Update on Keloid Management

**Authors:** Michael H. Tirgan, Qi Yin, Albert Wolkerstorfer, Barbu Gociman, Tae Hwan Park

PMC · DOI: 10.1055/a-2698-3574 · Archives of Plastic Surgery · 2026-01-30

## TL;DR

Keloids are difficult to treat skin growths, but new research is improving understanding and treatment options through personalized and multimodal approaches.

## Contribution

The paper provides updated insights into keloid management, emphasizing personalized and multimodal treatment strategies.

## Key findings

- Multimodal strategies like corticosteroids, cryotherapy, and chemotherapy are effective for keloid treatment.
- Personalized treatment algorithms improve outcomes by considering lesion characteristics and patient factors.
- Emerging therapies and genetic insights are paving the way for targeted treatments.

## Abstract

Keloids remain one of the most challenging conditions in cutaneous wound healing, marked by complex pathophysiology and notoriously high recurrence rates. Although a universally accepted standard of care is still lacking, recent advances have significantly improved our understanding and management of this fibrotic disorder. Emerging evidence highlights genetic predisposition, prolonged inflammatory response, and aberrant fibroblast activity as key contributors to keloid formation. Current therapeutic approaches focus on multimodal strategies, including intralesional corticosteroids, cryotherapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Intralesional triamcinolone remains a first-line treatment, while chemotherapy agents like 5-fluorouracil and vincristine have shown promising efficacy in refractory cases. Surgical excision, often combined with adjuvant therapies such as radiation, is considered for large or recurrent lesions. Given the high recurrence rate, patient-centered, evidence-based treatment algorithms are essential. Stratifying keloids into categories enables tailored interventions. Both established and emerging treatments are now evolving toward more personalized and less invasive approaches to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction. Multimodal, individualized treatment approaches—guided by lesion morphology, anatomical location, treatment history, and patient factors—are essential for optimizing outcomes. Emerging therapies are expanding the therapeutic arsenal, offering additional strategies for resistant or recurrent cases. Moreover, the integration of molecular and genetic insights is paving the way for the development of targeted therapies, which may ultimately transform keloid treatment into a more precise and effective discipline. Future studies should focus on large-scale trials to establish standardized, data-driven treatment guidelines for keloids.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** 5-fluorouracil (PubChem CID 3385), vincristine (PubChem CID 5978), triamcinolone (PubChem CID 31307)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** fibrotic disorder (MESH:D009358), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), Keloid (MESH:D007627)
- **Chemicals:** vincristine (MESH:D014750), 5-fluorouracil (MESH:D005472), triamcinolone (MESH:D014221)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12858323/full.md

## References

85 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12858323/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12858323