Hello! Here’s just a quick update, not much has changed! In this pic, I have cordran tape on my scars. My doctor asked me to take a break from the steroid shots, and I was due for an injection this month—but just started a new job so I wasn’t able to get an appointment. I’ll be booking an appointment for the next week!

Also, I’ve been reading your comments. Thank you for the words of encouragement, sharing your treatment stories, and letting me know that I am being heard on this platform. I share such similarities to what you have shared. I’m rethinking radiation, and maybe thinking about contacting a specialist for cryotherapy. I’ll keep you posted when I’ve decided which route I’ll be going. 

I too, get discouraged when I’m picking out my clothes or am shopping for tops because it’s such a huge part of my identity. I’m always trying to find the perfect top that hides me scar. I know that the scar is part of me, but it’s such easier to hide it then having to explain what it is and how I got it. 

I’m working up the courage to not care as much, but it’s not easy. 

What I Do In Between Steroid Injections

Here are some things I use to treat my scars while I am waiting in between kenalog injections.

Cordran Tape: This tape was prescribed by my doctor. It costs about $70.00 with my insurance and the roll will usually last me about 2 months. The tape is infused with steroid medication, and is one way to maintain my scar in between injections. I put the tape on right before bed, and will take it off the next day when I'm in the shower. The tape isn't very comfortable because it's really stiff, but it helps to cut the tape to the exact size of my scar with rounded edges so that there isn't any tricky sharp edges. I've been using this tape religiously since my last kenalog injection. Let's hope it helps

 Jojoba Oil: Whenever my scar is feeling dry, I'll apply some jojoba oil directly to my scar. I use a cotton ball to apply it to the scar, and it makes me feel like I'm returning some natural oil to the surface of my skin. I bought my bottle from Trader Joe's!

Clindamycin Phosphate: I've also used Clindamycin Phosphate to clean my scars in between steroid tape or silicon tape. Acne and blackheads tend to form around my scars, so this is one way that I've been able to control those break outs. My scars are a result from acne, so I'd rather be safe than sorry! There will be no new scars from acne if I can control it with CP!

Plato's: I haven't been really good at consistently using Plato's Scar Serum or Dark Scar Corrector but I do use it whenever I remember to. I think because I'm already using other products, I tend to forget about these guys. I'm not sure if these guys have made that big of a difference to my scars, but I thought I'd share!

Silicon Sheets: 

ScarAway-I've recently started using these again! I like the ScarAway brand because it's my skin color and it's really soft. But one thing I don't really like about ScarAway is that the fabric can collect swear and get kinda smelly after a few uses. The directions say it can be used for about 14 days, but I usually throw it out after 3-4 days. The box costs $26 on Amazon.

Embrace Scar Therapy for Old Scars-I used this for the first time this week. The directions say you can leave it on for 10 days at a time, but I took it off after 24 hours my first time using them. I thought that I could re-apply after taking it off like most silicon sheets, but unfortunately they lost their stickiness after taking it off. I think I was supposed to leave it on my scars for 10 days without taking them off. I like that these sheets are soft and I don't really notice that it's on. I think I will give them another try in a few more weeks if my scars start to get better after using the cordran tape. Because I'm applying Cordran tape every 12 hours, it doesn't really make sense for me to use the embrace tape which requires me to leave the tape on for days at a time. The box comes with 3 strips and costs about $22 on Amazon.

Hello Friends! Here's my update. I saw my doctor last week and got treatment with kenalog steroid injections. We did the same routine, with lidocaine cream to numb the area, then biofreeze spray simultaneously with the steroid injections to relieve the pain.

After my treatment, my doctor mentioned a different approach to treatment that I have been thinking about. The new approach would be that my scars would be surgically removed (again) followed by radiation therapy. The new part of this treatment would be the radiation part. It wasn't the first time she's told me about radiation therapy, but it wasn't until now that I've been seriously considering it. I have had my scars surgically removed before in 2012, and they came back even bigger than before. You can see the progress from previous posts.

I've tried all treatments from laser, surgery, steroid injections, cordran tape (steroid tape), silicon tape, essential oils....everything! I am desperate to get rid of my scars, but nothing really seems to work. I couldn't do the radiation therapy right away though. I would need to lose weight before the new approach. I've been in grad school for the past two years, and during this time---I've gained a lot of weight. The scar and weight gain has been huge factors effecting my self confidence. So some good from this talk with my doctor is that I'm motivated more than ever to lose this extra weight that I've put on over the past few years.

Because the scars would be surgically removed, I would need to lose weight before the surgery. My scars on located in my chest, where skin is very tight---and if I were to do this surgery/radiation treatment, I would need to lose enough weight so that there would be enough elasticity to close my incision without so much tension. The doctor said this has worked for the majority of her patients. I think we've done the steroid route for so long, maybe she's afraid it's no longer working. For now, I'm still leaning towards less aggressive treatments. I'm just so afraid that my scars will become bigger if I surgically remove them again. I want to do more research on radiation therapy and look into success rates first.

If I go with radiation treatment, it's going to be a long and well-thought out decision. As much as I want my scars to be removed, I don't want to risk them coming back bigger than ever.

In my opinion, the scars do feel a lot softer and less painful after the injections. However, I have noticed that they have been growing over the years even with the steroid injections. My concern is that I don't feel like my current approach has been aggressive enough. After 3 months, we always take a break from the steroids. But I want to keep going consistently until we see some big changes. My doctor says it's not good to have too many steroid injections though, so I've been putting my faith in her approach.

So for now, I'm doing the silicon sheets and cordran tape in between sessions. Stay tuned!

On the road to recovery again...

Sept 2017 vs. April 2017

This would be my third keloid injection this year (Jan, March now April)
My doctor usually uses lidocaine cream to numb my scars before injecting them with 40mg Kenalog (while the nurse sprays it with a numbing biofreeze). It makes the injections way more tolerable!

My doctor wants to try one more round before giving it a break. She says it's not good to keep injecting it, and that she wants to see how my skin will react. If the keloid starts to itch and grow again, then I will go back in for another round of shots.

Update

Hello!
Just an update!

I started Kenalog injections again.
Seems like it's working---there is sinking in the middle and overall my scars seem less raised and less painful. I'm also using Cordran Tape again. I don't know if it works, but at least it protects/reminds me to not scratch.

My next appointment is next week. Will try to post another blog/pic right after my treatment.

-C

Intense Light Pulse Laser & Steroid Injections

I had an appointment for a consultation with a Cosmetic & Plastics Specialist yesterday. I've been contemplating whether or not to reach out to specialists in the Los Angeles area, but thought I should do some research for people around my area first (San Francisco Bay).

Anyway, the appointment went well. I explained to my doctor that I've been getting on and off treatments for my scars for a few years but I was interested in other approaches.

She suggested that we try intense pulse light laser treatments, immediately followed by steroid injections for 4 weeks at a time. So I had my first pulse light treatment, which was super quick!

Pulse Light Laser:

Basically, I sat down on a chair (kinda looked like a dentist chair), and she put googles on me to protect my eyes from the laser flashes. I didn't feel any pain. It just felt like quick puffs of air, and flashes of heat. It kind of reminded me of camera lights flashing. It probably lasted less than 5 minutes altogether.

Right after the pulse light laser treatment, she asked me to take the googles off and immediately injected my scars with kenalog steroid. I don't miss these haha.

I must have looked scared, because she had to remind me to breathe.

Anyway, I took off my band aids this morning...

Here is a picture of what it looks like today. I know it's not going to get better overnight but keeping my hopes up that I will see some progress in the next coming months...

The doctor also mentioned that the laser treatments usually will make your scars appear purple/more red before lightening it up (like a bruising effect).

Anyway, I scheduled my next appointment for next month. Praying that this will work!!

Hello

It's been so long since I've updated you guys...but that's mostly because I haven't really done anything as far as treatment. As you can see, my keloid is worst than ever. :/
It's really grown and is bulging, bumpy, dark red, and man---is it painful!
I really messed up. I have been uninsured for the past year, so I haven't seen any doctors...so no treatments. I tried REALLY hard to ignore the scar. I told myself, maybe I could live with it. It's not a big deal.

It IS a big deal though! When it gets so painful, that it's hard to sleep---I cannot ignore it any longer.
Trying to see a doctor via Medi-Cal was a JOKE! HA! SO found out really quick that there are no plastic surgeons/scar specialists that are covered through Medi-Cal. I tried to see someone through my University's Health Center, but they are really just there to refer out...

Anyway, I finally bit the bullet---and am paying $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for Kaiser (Silver Plan! haha).
It's costs as much as a new car payment, but what choice do I have?

Starting Aug 01, I will be covered! I'll be seeing a new doctor. I want to start on Kenalog injections again, and see where that goes. I recently moved too, so I'm hoping my new doctor will be more supportive of my scar treatment process. Wish me luck everyone! I'll make sure to update more frequently!


Current Treatment: Silicon sheets only (drug store brand), sometimes I use prescribed Cordran tape (but I'm running out soo I've been using it sparingly)
Progress: None
Plan: Find a new doctor stat!