Triamcinolone injection treating keloid scar

Keloid Scars: Can a Simple Injection Really Make a Difference?

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the effectiveness of triamcinolone injections in reducing keloid size and promoting cell death."

Keloids are more than just scars; they are a fibroproliferative disorder affecting a significant percentage of the population. Unlike normal scars that fade over time, keloids can grow beyond the original wound site, causing concern. Understanding what triggers and sustains keloid formation is crucial, and researchers have been exploring various treatments to manage and reduce these persistent skin growths.

One promising avenue of treatment involves triamcinolone, a corticosteroid known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Injecting triamcinolone directly into keloid scars has been a common practice for decades, aiming to reduce inflammation and potentially shrink the scar tissue. While the approach is widely used, questions remain about its effectiveness and the specific mechanisms through which it acts.

This article delves into a study assessing the impact of triamcinolone injections on keloid scars, focusing on changes in size and the induction of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, within the scar tissue. By understanding the results of this research, individuals grappling with keloids can make more informed decisions about their treatment options.

Triamcinolone Injections for Keloid Treatment: Do They Really Work?

Triamcinolone injection treating keloid scar

A recent study investigated the effects of triamcinolone injections on keloid scars, examining changes in length, height, and thickness, as well as the number of cells undergoing apoptosis (cell death). The study involved fifteen patients with ear keloids, divided into two groups. One group underwent keloid excisions, while the other received three sessions of triamcinolone injections before excision.

The key measurements included the keloid scars' length, height, and thickness, taken before triamcinolone injection and before surgery. Researchers also analyzed surgical specimens to quantify cells and assess apoptosis. Here’s a breakdown of the methods used:

Study Design: Prospective, controlled, randomized, single-blinded clinical trial.
Participants: Fifteen patients with ear keloids.
Groups:
- Group 1: Keloid excision only (seven patients).
- Group 2: Keloid excision after three triamcinolone injections (eight patients).
Triamcinolone Injection: 1 ml of triamcinolone hexacetonide (20mg/ml) injected into the central region of the keloid scar every three weeks.
Measurements: Keloid length, height, and thickness measured before injections and before surgery.
Apoptosis Analysis: Microscopic examination of surgical specimens to identify and quantify apoptotic cells.

The results indicated no significant difference in apoptosis between the two groups. The apoptotic index in the excision-only group was 56.82, while in the triamcinolone group, it was 68.55 (p=0.0971). Although the triamcinolone group showed a slight increase in apoptosis, it was not statistically significant. Additionally, the keloid dimensions in the triamcinolone group reduced by 10.12% in length, 11.94% in height, and 15.62% in thickness, but these reductions were also not statistically significant (p>0.05).

What This Means for Keloid Treatment

The study suggests that while triamcinolone injections may lead to some reduction in keloid size, they do not significantly increase apoptosis within the scar tissue. Therefore, triamcinolone infiltration may not be the sole solution for keloid management. Further research is needed to explore the drug's mechanisms of action and determine its effectiveness in combination with other treatments, offering hope for more effective keloid management strategies in the future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/0100-69912015003008, Alternate LINK

Title: Effect Of Triamcinolone In Keloids Morphological Changes And Cell Apoptosis

Subject: Surgery

Journal: Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: João Márcio Prazeres Dos Santos, Cláudio De Souza, Anílton César De Vasconcelos, Tarcizo Afonso Nunes

Published: 2015-06-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are keloid scars and how do they differ from normal scars?

Keloid scars are a fibroproliferative disorder, meaning they involve an excessive growth of fibrous tissue. Unlike normal scars that tend to fade over time, keloids can grow beyond the original wound site. This excessive growth is a key difference, making keloids more noticeable and potentially causing functional or cosmetic concerns. The article highlights that keloids affect a significant percentage of the population, emphasizing the importance of understanding their formation and treatment.

How do triamcinolone injections work to treat keloid scars?

Triamcinolone is a corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory properties. The injections are administered directly into the keloid scars with the aim of reducing inflammation, thereby potentially shrinking the scar tissue. The process involves injecting 1 ml of triamcinolone hexacetonide (20mg/ml) into the keloid scar every three weeks. The study explored the impact of these injections on keloid size and the induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death) within the scar tissue.

What were the key findings of the study regarding triamcinolone injections and keloid treatment?

The study, a prospective, controlled, randomized, single-blinded clinical trial, involved fifteen patients with ear keloids. It compared two groups: one undergoing keloid excision only and the other receiving three triamcinolone injections before excision. The study measured keloid length, height, and thickness, finding reductions in size in the triamcinolone group. However, these reductions were not statistically significant. The study also analyzed apoptosis, or cell death, and found no significant difference between the groups. Specifically, the apoptotic index was not significantly different between the excision-only group and the triamcinolone group.

What is the significance of apoptosis in the context of keloid treatment, and did the study find that triamcinolone effectively induced it?

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a mechanism the body uses to eliminate unwanted cells. In keloid treatment, promoting apoptosis within the scar tissue could potentially reduce the keloid's size. The study aimed to determine if triamcinolone injections increased apoptosis. The results showed that, while the triamcinolone group had a slight increase in apoptosis, it was not statistically significant. Therefore, the study suggests that triamcinolone infiltration may not be the sole solution for keloid management. This finding highlights the complexity of keloid treatment and the need for further research into the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of different treatments.

What does the research suggest about the overall effectiveness of triamcinolone injections for keloid treatment, and what are the implications for future treatment strategies?

The study suggests that, while triamcinolone injections may lead to some reduction in keloid size, they do not significantly increase apoptosis within the scar tissue. The study highlights that the reductions in keloid dimensions were not statistically significant, implying that triamcinolone may not be the definitive solution for keloid management on its own. It calls for further research to explore the mechanisms of action of triamcinolone and its effectiveness when combined with other treatments. This opens the door for exploring combination therapies and innovative approaches to provide more effective strategies for keloid management, offering more promising outcomes for individuals grappling with keloids.