Demographic and clinical characteristics of keloids in an urban center in Sub-Sahara Africa

Background: Keloid is a major complication of wound healing. The clinical spectrum ranges from unaesthetic lesions minimally invading the adjacent skin to large grotesque lesions sometimes associated with contractures. Subjects and Methods: The patients were seen over 2 years in a tertiary hospital setting. The following information was obtained with a proforma: the biodata, etiology of keloid, region affected, symptoms, and treatment prior to presentation. The keloids were examined and the sizes were grouped into small, medium, and large keloids; the severities of symptoms were determined using the visual analog scale. Results: 159 patients with 224 keloids were seen over 2-year period with male-to-female ratio of 1:1.24. The most common causes of keloid were trauma and acne (27.0% and 20.1%, respectively). The trunk had a statistically significant higher number of symptomatic keloid compared with other regions keloids. The larger keloids were more symptomatic compared with the smaller ones, P = 0.000. There were more pruritic keloids than painful ones. About 25% of patients had positive family history in first-degree relative, 16% in second-degree relative, and their keloid are more symptomatic than those without family history. Conclusion: In view of the burden of keloids, early treatment is advised. Unnecessary trauma and extra piercing should be avoided; elective surgeries that are deferrable should be postponed until when necessary.