LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Dr Lam,

My daughter who is 5 years old, african, has a keloid that has developed at the back of her ear lobe after we pierced her ears and a hypertropic scar just above her eyebrow resulting from stitching following a falling accident she suffered. Whats the best treatment you would advise and at what stage would you suggest one commences the treatment in view of her age.

Also l have heard about certain herbal treatment that one can administer/use in cases such as these, whats your view on this and how effective are they.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks.

hmmm, that is a tough one. in adults, in order to get the success that i have gotten i excise and radiate them. but i would not do that for a 5 year old. also, injecting steroids into it may be painful and traumatic and also i would not like to inject steroids too much into a little one (just my feeling not really based on science). i think pressure type devices on the keloid may help but i have never done that. you might want to research that. as far as herbal medications, i have never heard of any that work. i know silicone gel can help but i typically use that in an already treated keloid. in this case, i would do more research because i really do not have a perfect answer for you.
best,
sml

Hi Dr Lam,

Thank you for your swift response, but can l trouble you again. When you talk of 'pressure type devices' to apply to the keloid what exactly are you referring to? I am concerned that if l do not do anything the keloid would continue to grow as my child gets older. Is there any way one can 'manage' this at all and hope that in the not too distant future some kind of treatment might be discovered. I am assuming there is continual research being done in this area for some kind of treatment for keloids.

On the herbal front there is talk of snake oil being effective for hypertropic scars and a chinese keloid paste that supposedly softens the keloid.

On my own part l am continually doing research in this area but would be glad to receive any pointers from you as well Dr Lam as per any further area that l should be looking at when you talk of research.

Many thanks again.

unfortunately i do not really know. i know that people use some kind of clip device that limits keloid growth and may shrink them but i have never used one so i cannot make a specific recommendation. you will have to do the research to find out. let me know how that goes.
best,
sml