Talk:Keloid
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Some people, myself included, believe that one doesn't suffer, but merely adapts to life with keloids. As a way to show my support to fellow brothers and sisters afflicted with keloids, I have not only created a web page devoted to and showcasing my scars, but also a support group in Yahoo.
I hope to bring keloids to the attention of the dermatological community with the hope that they will use current gene mapping and gene identification to find a cure for preventing and treating keloids.
We also hope to advocate for a change in the current health insurance refusal to cover keloid treatment. As it stands, many insurance companies refus to pay for treatment as they see keloids as purely cosemetic in nature and not a disease of the skin that can inhibit normal daily living as evidenced by the photo showing the poor soul with keloids on the soles of his feet!
Not only do keloids burn, itch, and become sensitive in sunlight, they also continue to grow over time, often times becoming so big, they make wearing clothes and undergarments uncomfortable, not to mention the stares people get from the uninformed public.
Furthermore, my group also hopes to get in touch with a clothing company that would like to design bathing suits, tank tops, and other items especially for bearers of keloids. As it is, most keloids are on the shoulders, chest, or back area which can make wearing such revealing clothing quite embarassing.
We have written to prominent black celebrities asking them to go on the talk shows about the plight of their darker-skinned brothers and sisters...we still have yet to get replies. Oprah has ignored our pleas as well.
If you know of any doctor or research team that is currently looking for study participants, please direct them to my web page Kim's Keloid page and/or Keloid Support Group in Yahoo. Thank you.Orbitgal68 04:51, 5 October 2005 (UTC)
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[edit] Orthovoltage radiotherapy
"Radiation therapy — Electron beam radiation can be used but often not go deep enough to affect internal organs. Orthovoltage radiation is more penetrating and slightly more effective. There have not been any reports of this causing any form of cancer in many years of use, but it is very expensive. Radiation treatments may reduce scar formation if they are used soon after a surgery, during the time a surgical wound is healing."
Confusion about electron and orthovoltage treatments. Electrons generally much more penetrating than orthovoltage, but need skin bolus to be effective. Suggest cutting the first two sentences altogether. It is incorrect to state that orthovoltage RT is very expensive- probably the quickest and easiest of any radiotherapy treatments.Jellytussle 23:57, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
[edit] picture
i'm going to likely replace the picture at the top of the page, mainly because where it says "acne." That is actually a sebaceous cyst. i know it's awfully nitpicky, but this is an encyclopedia, accuracy should be a priority. Dreamer.redeemer 22:30, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Ethnic dimension
Why is no one mentioning that keloids are known to be much more prevalent in those of African descent?
- My fault. Some actually did mention the ethnic dimension. Feel free to either delete my edit to the article (i.e., "Incidence") or merge it with what was already there.
-Actually, whoever wrote up the former racial classifications of keloid incidences is a little confused with the differences between racial background and skin color. Not all Asians and Africans are dark skinned. You can be Asian or African and have a light complexion (Zhang Ziyi and Rosa Parks are two famous examples of light skinned Asians and Africans: these two celebrity personalities are in fact just as or even lighter skinned than many people of European descent). The images provided in the picture are of people who are extremely light skinned as well. Since the images are authentic, Keloid skin must affect individuals regardless of their skin color- it's a gene that increases the incidence. The argument that geographical ethnic origin could play a part in keloid skin is valid, but I'd prefer to see a more culturally aware understanding of it.
[edit] Flesh-colored
The article indicates that keloids can be "pink to flesh-colored or red to dark brown". What color of flesh is meant? Pburka 02:32, 2 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] "Natural" treatments?
I'm no expert, but I do not believe that applying a warm rag (or teabag) to a keloid for five minutes would produce any effect. If it did, no one would have keloids anymore. The "tea tree oil" sentence is also suspect in my view. 71.141.232.252 00:53, 30 September 2006 (UTC)
