Keloids are fibroproliferative skin disorders characterized by the progressive deposition of collagen. Recently, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been used to treat pathologic scars.

A new study published in Dermatologic Therapy compared the efficacy of intralesional injections (ILIs) of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) used alone or in combination with ESWT for keloids.

In this pilot study, 40 patients were randomized into two equal groups, and were scheduled to undergo a 12-week comparative clinical trial. Group A was treated with TA ILIs and ESWT and group B was treated with TA ILIs alone.

It was observed that at week-12, both groups had acceptable improvements in nearly all dimensions evaluated—these improvements were statistically more significant in group A. Group A showed a higher mean percentage reduction in lesion length, width and height and in the VSS score. More patients in group A had scores of ≥4, than in group B, which indicated improvements that were good or excellent, on the PGA and IGA. While no serious adverse events occurred.

From the results, it concluded that ESWT could be a new, effective and acceptable adjuvant treatment option for keloids.

Source: Dermatologic Therapy. 2020 May 22;e13653. doi: 10.1111/dth.13653.