SRT For Keloids Specialist

What are keloid scars?

Keloids develop when scar tissue grows excessively over an area of injury. These smooth, hard growths form a non-malignant tumor While they are not cancerous, they can be unsightly and cause physical discomfort, including pain, itching and restricted mobility.

A keloid can form on any part of your body, but can usually be found on the earlobes, shoulders, cheeks, and chest.

Many types of skin injuries can result in a keloid, including:

• Surgical incisions
• Acne
• Chickenpox
• Traumatic injuries

Keloids can take weeks or months to form and they affect an estimated 18 million people worldwide.

What is superficial radiation therapy?

Superficial radiation therapy, or SRT, is a tissue-preserving technology that boasts a 95% cure rate for the two most common forms of skin cancer. Because keloids are benign (noncancerous) tumors, SRT is just as effective at treating these growths as well.

SRT is painless and similar to getting an X-ray, but with a therapeutic level of radiation delivered to a precise location on your skin. During SRT, precise levels of radiation penetrate only 5mm below your skin’s surface. This targets the keloid while leaving your healthy skin tissue unharmed.

How does superficial radiation therapy treat keloid scars?

Dr. Klein and his team at HK Dermatology use the SRT-100™, an advanced system that quickly and painlessly treats keloids right in the office.

Before they apply radiation therapy, one of the highly trained providers at HK Dermatology carefully removes the keloid via surgical excision. Then, they administer a series of 30 to 60 second SRT treatments over the next 1-3 days.

What are the benefits of superficial radiation therapy for keloid removal?

Traditional keloid removal only involves cutting the scar tissue away from your skin. But many times, a new keloid forms where the original one was removed. Because radiation inhibits the keloid scars, SRT reduces your risk of keloid regrowth, with less than a 10% recurrence rate.

Dr. Klein and the team at HK Dermatology understands that keloid scars can be uncomfortable and difficult to remove. If you have bothersome keloids that resist conservative treatment, call HK Dermatology or book an appointment online to learn more about SRT today.