Recurrent Auricular Keloids during Pregnancy

Abstract

A keloid is one of the most frustrating clinical problems in wound healing. Keloids form following dermal injury and exhibit exuberant and indefinite growth of collagen. Many theories have been propounded in trying to explain some of the vagaries of keloids. From one of the theories, keloid scars may develop at any age; patients between 10 and 30 years of age (reproductive age) are the most affected population, and there may be a hormonal influence because keloid scars tend to grow during puberty and pregnancy, and resolve during menopause [[1]]. In our experience, pregnancy-related recurrent keloids have arisen from the ear, despite the patient's successful completion of our treatment. The case presented here illustrates the possible connection between keloid formation and hormonal changes during pregnancy.