[YEA]  04/11/2013: Paula from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada: "My daughter pierced her inner ear and a keloid formed and was painful and sore. She tried acv, tea tree oil, calendula cream, lavender, salt water and various other natural remedies all to no avail. She had a roommate who was genetically prone to keloid scarring and she recommended crush uncoated Tylenol with a couple drops of water to make a paste. Leave on for no more than five mins. at a time. Within 3 days and 3 applications later, 95% of the keloid went away. It opened up and stuff came out and than scabbed over."

06/11/2013: Ty from Riverside, California replies: "So was the keloid fairly new? Did you try it right away or no? Also, how big was the keloid?"

06/16/2013: Paula from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada replies: "My daughter's keloid was probably 6 months or older. Her room mate, as I have stated, was very prone to getting keloids quite frequently. It was her doctor who recommended the Tylenol. It was approx. The size of a dime. She would make a paste of tylenol with a few drops of water and leave it on for a short period of about five minutes. It would start to feel like it was burning but started to immediately feel it changing. The colour went from dark to red to lighter as it started to respond to the Tylenol. On about the third application it broke open and oozed a pus like substance and than scabbed over and shrunk about 2/3s."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  06/09/2013: Tired Of Keloids from Toronto, Ontario: "Hi, I am from Toronto. I have had keloid for many years now (abt 5) on my chest. I used ACV for a mth and noticed scabs on it. It did get smaller also. I stopped using it for a bit because around my chest ACV used to burn on my skin. I have started again but don't see much difference. I will try the tylenol thing tonight hopefully it will work.

I am booked for a surgery for this in August where my doctor will shave the keloid but the products that will be used to prevent from coming has been suggested as cancerous later in life.

I am hoping that the suggestions on this page will work."

06/10/2013: Caitlin from Austin, Tx replies: "My keloid scar began disappearing when I began ingesting ACV and using coconut oil directly on it. It is so flat now and so much less noticeable that I am astounded. But, I ask myself the question, which one was it? The ACV taken daily or cleaning & moisturizing my skin with the VCO? Perhaps a combination of both! The VCO has really gotten my facial scars better and ACV has brightened my face up."

10/15/2012: San from Houston, Tx replies: "Please keep us posted on if ACV removes the redness of the keloid. I have around 30 keloids, I have used Kennacort injections to great success, applying Triocaine makes the process painless. The keloids have flattened but the redness is still there, I am wondering how can I get rid of that. Thanks!"

03/05/2013: Puggle from Beaumont, Tx replies: "consider sauna or read up on it......"

03/25/2013: Sania from Toronto, Ontario replies: "It's been a month since I have been using ACV and I have about 4 scabs (bruises) on my keloid. For those who have used ACV, does it remove the keloid?"

07/09/2012: Michelle from Vancouver, British Columbia replies: "I started using ACV on my 5 year old keloid today. Over this period, it has grown from about 0.5 cm to 2 cm in length. I have tried steroid injections which were extremely painful and the effects did not last. Using the ACV, I applied it every half hour or so with a Q-tip, and used the Q-tip to rub and put pressure on it until the ACV was pretty much dry. Then repeated that process for about 10 hours, every half an hour. I could immediately see that the ACV was working, the keloid was flattened and the colouring was almost like my normal skin. Other than some redness from the ACV that I accidently must have applied to my healthy skin around the keloid, there were no side effects. I've read some other people's replies on here and they seem to have pussing and pain. However, I found no sensation to the area.

I would really recommend to try ACV with the applied rubbing and pressure ( read that it helps to break down the keloid in addition to the ACV) I will continue to try this method and see what happens and keep you all posted!"

11/21/2012: Tj from Nashville, Ar replies: "Hey what was your effects with the steroid injections?"

03/31/2013: Getwell from Glasgow, Uk replies: "Hi Michelle, Did the ACV work? How's your keloid now?"

01/19/2012: Charlotte from London, Uk replies: "I've just got myself some ACV and will start applying it tomorrow. Please do keep us posted on how your keloid is doing, because it will be helpful to see how other people are progressing so we can compare results!

If anyone else has any stories about using ACV on their keloids please post them! I have found all of the posts very helpful and extremely heartening so far!

I have a keloid on my arm from an injection at school, and one on my right ear lobe from a piercing. I have had them both for 5 years. The one on the back of my ear got surgically removed because it was getting very large. It has grown back slowly over the 3 years since it's been operated on, it isnt as large as it was but it is still itchy and I worry it will carry on growing. The scar on my arm stopped itching after a couple of years and seems to be quite stable with no noticable change in size.. I would just love to get rid of the one on my ear!

Thank you, I will keep you posted on my scars!"

03/11/2012: Amy from Warwick, NY replies: "Hello Ted and any other affected readers,

I am thrilled to find this forum and to hear similar stories of people with keloid scars. However, most peoples scars I've read seem to be small. I'm interested in treating mine with something, but I was wondering if these treatments are effective on larger keloid scars as well? I'm quite nervous to begin. My scar 4 inches by 1 inch. It was originally much smaller, the size of a nickel. However, it has a cyst inside of it and it was quite painful, so I tried steriod injections. They were so painful! I then had surgery to remove the entire thing. Now I have an even bigger longer scar from the incision. Will any other these home remedies work for me? I'm sick of having to buy high necked shirts and having to have a custom made wedding dress.

Thank you."

03/13/2012: Rachel from Reinholds, Pa replies: "Keloids - often respond well to treatment topically with comfrey dalve or Complete Tissue Salve (contains Comfrey)

If you cannot find either of these email me at myronweaver2(at)gmail. com and I will suggest a source.

I help treat burns and serious wounds outside of the hospital whenever possible and we were working on a 2 yr old who had been burned over 30% of his body. When he was released from the hospital, the concern was the serious keloids he had that covered his whole back. These would not stretch as he grew. I have a huge bed of comfrey so I blended comfrey root with olive oil and mixed it with another salve and applied it daily to his back and his keloids nearly disappeared over a few months of time. We were very grateful.

Since our family takes comfrey internally (though FDA warns against it) we have had good success with a 6 inch by 2 inch keloid shrinking to an almost flat surface. My husband was drinking comfrey green smoothies for some intestinal trouble he was having and one day he noticed, to his amazement that his keloid on his arm was 50% gone.

Comfrey is a skin miracle worker.

We had a friend who had serious scarring in his throat from a tracheotomy site. It affected his voice big time. On hearing what comfrey could do he began drinking green smoothies of comfrey.

In one week he told us that his voice was 50% better and the scarring was going away."

04/20/2012: Joseph from Murfreesboro, Tn replies: "I don't know where to find comfrey but I have a keloid on my chest and shoulder could u tell me how u got rid of the keloids and what u used and also where to get the items. thank you so much."

09/07/2011: Gb from Montreal, Qc, Canada replies: "To Deb: Hi, may I ask how old your scar was, and what color it was originally? Thanks for your help!"

10/24/2011: Deb from Manchester, Uk replies: "Hi GB, the keloid that formed from my last attempt at keloid removal surgery was about 5 years old and I have black skin so it was slightly darker than my skin tone - as the Apple Cider Vinegar ate away at the keloid it showed the pinky flesh until it eventually healed."

10/29/2011: Max from Sg replies: "To Deb: Can 3 years keloid be able to work without any surgeries in the past??"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/12/2012: Julypen from Dubai replies: "hi.. I'm julypen.. I am applying ACV on my keloid but it was very painful because ACV create a wound on my keloid.. Could you please advise me if it is normal or I would stop putting ACV on my keloid.. Please thanks:)"

02/12/2012: Mmsg from Somewhere, Europe replies: "Julypen, dilute the ACV, of course."

03/31/2013: Getwell from Glasgow, Uk replies: "Hi Deb, I am extremely happy to hear tht a person got cured with Keloid. I am also in a pathetic suitation where a small wound on my neck becomes a keloid scar and grown huge. As it got infected, I had undergone surgery with out any other choice.. Bad luck.. Now surgery scar is 5+ inches long and started growing.. I am thinking of applying the ACV diluted. Your post gave me some hope. Thanks for sharing."

05/04/2009: Jennifer from North Bruwswick, New Jersey replies: "Hello,

I just wanted to let you know that i had a hypertrophic scar which is same as keloid but doesnt extend beyond the site of injury . i used tea tree oil on it (100%), please be patient and you will see results, it took two weeks, when you first start using tea tree oil you will think that nothing is happening but after a couple of days, the scar starts to shirnk and scab. Just exfoliate when that happens and keep putting tea tree oil. Tea tree oil doesnt burn healthy skin as bad as apple cider vinager, turns the hypertrophic scar into a white color after it has healed OR if you dont put too much of it. I put too much of it because i wanted to get rid of it, so it shrunk it then scabbed and peeled , now i have lighr pink color that im sure will feed with time and constant honey and aloe vera application. Try it and let me know how it does. Soak a cotton ball , the size of your scar in tea tree oil, put it on your scar and keep it over night then remove it the next day , if there is too much irritation, take a day off or continue if you want results faster. I hope it works for you, i tried everything from ACV, to scillicon sheets, nothing worked except tea tree oil. Use aloe vera once the scar scabs and falls to minimize the burning effects.

Good Luck to you"

05/04/2009: Linda from SF, CA replies: "I have been taking 1000 mg of flax seed oil and/or fish oil three times a day which seems to help keep my keloid flatter and less red. "

07/03/2009: Sasha from Harare, Zimbabwe replies: "I am a female 43years of age and I am proned to keloids. I have approximately four keloids one being about 9cm long and 1 1/2cm wide. After reading your article I have just started applying Tea Tree Oil I hope it works. It is drying some part of it. Some of it has become very raw. It is irritating"

12/15/2009: Jo from Sf, Ca replies: "Hi,

Let me start off with thanking Ted , thank you so much for giving us alternative remedies to take care of ourselves.. I refer friends to this website all the time.

I had written on this site a few months ago .. see above.

I since then started doing the Baking soda with Hydrogen peroxide and it has also kep the keloids soft and under control. However, some of them are still kinda red or dark (interstingly , only the ones on the arm). Isnt there anything to actually reduce the redness (if not the actual keloid size)?

Ted i read about aspirin masks and tea tree oil.. given what has worked for me in the past, what remedy do you think is best?

I am getting married in a few months and it would be great to just have some small scars which can be covered with some makeup.. pleaseeeeeee let me know .

If anyone else has any experience, please let me know.

Ted, what do you think about coper peptides??"

[YEA]  02/21/2010: Michelle from Berkeley, California replies: "I have been using ACV on a keloid scar that formed 13 years ago after surgery. I had no idea it could be removed until reading the comments on this site.

It was about 4 inches long and a good inch wide, very thick and lumpy. After more than a year of applying ACV on a cotton ball to it over night, it is nearly gone.

At times the ACV irritated my skin. In that case, I let up at night and dabbed ACV on it 3-5 times during the day. A scab would form that would exfoliate off in the shower. The cycle repeated until the scar got smaller and smaller. My skin was more irritated from the tape holding the cotton ball than from the ACV.

I waited this long to post because I feared the scar would somehow reappear. Happy to say, it is 90% gone.

I tried silicon sheets, over the counter scar treatments, and nothing was effective. ACV works, but you must be diligent in applying it every night or daily. I would have preferred something that worked quicker, but after living with the scar for 13 years, what was one more year."

03/06/2010: Km from Allegen, Michigan replies: "I tried the apple cider vinegar too, and the tape that I used around it irritated my skin as well! It did scab once but I stopped using it, I'm just afraid of making it worse.. did it look worse before it got better? I would just like to know what exactly to expect, Thanks@"

03/08/2010: Michelle from Berkeley, Usa replies: "Reply to Kim: Yes, the scar will look worse due to the scabbing. When a scab forms, it usually will fall off in a day or two. You can stop the ACV periodically so the skin has time to heal. The scab will naturally exfoliate in the shower or you can rub it off if it is ready to fall off. You can also just keep the cotton ball on the scar for a short period so scabbing doesn't occur. The scar will turn white and get softer over time. The skin will also begin to exfoliate.

You will notice the scar getting smaller and smaller over time. The surrounding skin that once was part of the scar will no longer be affected (scab) by the ACV. The ACV will bring the healed skin to its normal color but will continue to eat away at the scar."

03/13/2010: Cay from Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines replies: "i had a bad case of keloid on my upper arm which started to grow since i was 7. i had it after a routine vaccination at my school and that's 25 years ago so you can just imagine how big it is now. it can be so itchy at times and so painful when i bump it on something sharp. added to it are pimples on my chest and back and a minor surgery scar which also became keloidal. that's why i'm always on the look-out for possible remedies and all that was available were injections which they say is so painful and those expensive ointments which proved to be ineffective anyway. until i stumbled on this website and i am amazed that it can be cured by using natural ingredients. i can't wait to try some of it soon (acv and baking soda to start with). i promise to write again as soon as i get positive results. thank you so much for creating websites such as this. MABUHAY!"

03/15/2010: Sphinx from Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines replies: "hi! i have acquired keloid on my upper arm when i was 7 from a routine vaccination (of i don't know what vaccine) in school. it appeared as a small pustule then and after 26yrs, is now around 2inches long. it can be itchy at times and very painful when hit by sharp objects. pimples on my chest and back and occasional boils also tend to grow into keloid so i have more than 10 growths around my torso by now. i always search the net in hope for possible prevention, if not cure. at the start, it was discouraging because i read that creams and ointments does not give good results and injections are way too expensive and also very painful. that's why just last week, it seemed like hope finally shone on me when i stumbled upon this website and read the articles most especially that of ted's. i didn't know keloid can be cured with just baking soda and acv! but when i read the foods to be avoided, it saddens me to know that i eat almost all those on the list at a regular basis. take for example wheat. of course being asians, rice as staple food is being served at least twice a day but we snack on bread, cookies, cakes, pastries most of the time and they're all made mostly from wheat flour, sugar and milk. and i happen to like tomatoes and citrus fruits as well. starting my regimen of drinking alkalized water (w/baking soda), i try to steer clear from eating those on the list as hard as i can but i just can't really help it sometimes. is it possible to up the detoxifying action of alkalized water by drinking it more often? like, mixing baking soda into the water i drink all day? i mix 1/2 teaspoon in every 500ml that i consume. would that still be ok? i mean,would there be any side/adverse effects if i take in too much baking soda? i also started applying cane vinegar (the only kind available in our kitchen) to my keloid and it was a bit painful everytime i do, so i guess it's working. but i'm planning to grab a bottle of acv next time i go to the grocery. pls do answer my querries. i really hope i will be keloid-free someday. thanks and more power! MABUHAY!"

05/16/2010: Daviegirl from Davie, Florida Usa replies: "which one would you say is the least irritating ACV or tea tree oil, my keloid is in my chest and the skin gets extremely itchy and irritated, usually after taking a hot shower. Which one of the two mentioned above should I start using first ? I have given up, tried everything including surgery (twice) and radiation, and nothing. Thank you"

[YEA]  09/13/2011: John from Overland Park, Ks replies: "I read this thread a 4weeks ago coz I have three keloids on my chest.

I'll be as truthful and honest as I can be:- At first I was skeptical about ACV kept asking myself why do Dr. not recommend this, But I took a shot since I tried cortisone injection which I must atest it's expensive and painful to get those injections!!!

I have been applying Organic ACV on two of my Keloid coz the 3rd one is larger(2inches long and 1inches wide).

Results

They're gone!!!

Findings

1) What ACV does it denatures the Epithelial tissue(top skin). It kills it, making it a dead skin therefore it peels off one layer at a time.

Cons

1) Skin irritates for 5min while applying(ACV)

2) Makes the skin really dark i.e. Dark spots are visible.

Application

For me;

Applied every night:- Pour ACV on cotton swab then dress it with Band Aid and slept.

Conclusion

If you got Small keloids use this coz it rips the skin open i.e. like an open wound. I won't recommend this for larger keloid it would be torture.

I am going next week to remove the larger Keloid (3rd keloid) then I monitor it, I might apply ACV on it while its still flat so that it doesnt grow again!!!

I will keep you guys posted. I have pictures from day 1 so I will post them ASAP"

10/13/2011: Amanda from Columbus, Oh replies: "My husband suffers from keloid scars and it such a devestating condition. They are not only itchy and painful but also cause the sufferer to assume a disturbed body imagage. He is currently on a vitamin E oil regimine, the keloids have softened and has noticed a great reduction in itchiness. We are dedicated to finding a method of diminishing the keloids, hopefully getting rid of the altogether.

Please visit our site at http://www.keloidscar.info

Thank You"

11/08/2011: Kass from USA replies: "Hi, I've been doing the ACV on a scar (I'm not sure if keloid or hypertrophic) but it turned the dark pinky/brown skin thats was on raised part into a scab that fell off in shower and its white underneath. My skin is still raised, I am not sure if I should continue with ACV or not."

02/17/2012: Avis2972 from Allentown, Pa replies: "Hi, I recommend you try Potassium Iodine.. It is heaven sent!! I have been on it for 2 weeks now and the results have been amazing. I can literally see the scars receding and flattening right before my very eyes!! The one thing about Keloid scars that most people don't understand is- they formed because the area at some point became infected. The Keloid forms as a result of our bodies trying to protect itself- thus trapping the infection in place. Iodide/Iodine (google it) not only makes the skin tissue regenerate but it cures the infection altogether!! I recommend supplementing with Lugol's iodine and applying Potassium directly on the scars twice a day. This double threat will make sure that you are attacking the infection both internally and externally! Another good thing about it is that onece the Keloid is gone.. It will never come back.. How good is that?!?! ? Good luck!!"

05/13/2012: Komal from Mumbai, India replies: "Avis, will you please explain how to use Potassium, how many applications in a day is advisable, where to get it from, it comes in which form."

05/14/2012: Baldev from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India replies: "Hi Komal, Firstly, have you tried Apple Cider Vinegar that should help you else you can try Lugol Iodine. It contains Potassium iodide also. Otherwise if you want to use potassium as such then it comes as potassium bi carbonate or Potassium Citrate, which you should be able to get from any chemist's shop, make a saturated solution and can apply. It is in the form of a white powder. Baldev"

08/09/2012: Tsering from Shillong, India replies: "Avis2972 Is it potassium Iodide or Iodine and is it for internal use or external? pls let me know soon..thx"

05/08/2010: Helena from Nashvile, Tn: "Hello! I REALLY want to try DMSO as a remedy for a fifteen-year-old keloid, four inches long, on my shoulder. Is the bad breath/body odor side effect going to keep me from going out in public for months? I know it will take a while to flatten the scar, but I need an alternate remedy if I'm going to stink badly for a long period of time. Thanks!"

02/19/2012: Sixxftr from Fairfax, Va replies: "@Amanda is OH -- I clicked the link from earthclinic.com to your site and was hugely disappointed. You and your husband are on a mission to get rid of keloids? I don't think so.

It seems as if this site had real 'valid' information on anything. You have 1 only 1 before and after shot and you don't say anything about it, nor do you say they used one of the home remedies. It would be great to know - what they used, how long they used it - and how long before they began to see results. Did they use more than one?

You also have Mederma on there - when Mederma is from onion extract and has not been proven to remove scars - let alone reducing keloids. Which is why so many companies clearly state that their formulation is not from onion extract (scartreatmentassociation. com, 2012).

While Mederma is certainly one of the most inexpensive and well-known scar creams on the market, our review staff believes that it is not the best product available for reducing the appearance of both old and new scars. This is because Mederma uses onion extract in their formulas. This ingredient was shown to have the same effect as using petroleum jelly.

See: http://www.scartreatmentassociation.com/scarring-removal/mederma-scar-cream.html

But, what you do have on this site is - is affiliate marketing. It's quite obvious that you are trying to draw traffic from Deirdre's site to yours for affiliate dollars. This is quite evident after visiting your site and strictly MY opinion.

You definitely have your ads running."

10/14/2012: San from Houston, Tx replies: "DMSO helping dissolve keloids. Can you please tell me what changes do you see on keloids, I have almost 20 on my shoulder and I am curious to know how MSM and DMSO are helping you? Did you say one one day you saw some difference? Hw many keloids do you have and how old are they.

Thanks, will appreciate your reply."

10/15/2012: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa replies: "Hi San, I have written about this on here before regarding MSM and keloid scars. We started using MSM many years ago before anyone really had even heard of it. It was my dad who introduced me to it for body pain due to exercise. He insisted I try it and I hesitatingly agreed to it. It was absolutely amazing! Both my husband and I continued to use it on a regular basis taking it in powder form since it seemed to be more effective than the capsules. It was well into the second year of regularly taking it that suddenly we both noticed our scars had diminished dramatically. I had one on my foot from an operation from many years before and my husband had a very large one above his shoulder from a childhood operation. His was even itchy. At the time we both agreed it was the MSM because there was nothing else we were doing back then on such a regular basis. Several years later we would read about MSM for scars.

Now you could try MSM internally but also use MSM cream topically. It certainly can't hurt to try. Hope this info helps. Lisa"

03/20/2013: Carla from Lakewood, Co: "In doing some online research for keloid treatments, I found the following:

Dr. Tirgan in New York City has started the Keloid Research Foundation. There they are attempting to obtain funding for research on this condition. There are several surveys that those people with keloids can take to provide them with more information regarding this condition. You can also sign up to be a member. Although I am not certain there's much reason to do so, I did. Dr. Tirgan has a specialized website for his private practice, also, and one dedicated to keloid information. He sells a topical panax ginseng cream for keloid treatment. Anyway, I would encourage ANYONE who is seeking treatment or information regarding keloids to get in touch with the foundation! The more people willing to participate in the surveys, etc, the more they'll learn about this condition.

I'm trying the scar treatment cream along with lugol's iodine solution AND Kelocote silicone gel. Not sure, but it seems my keloid scars are reducing just barely. I plan to continue this course even if over the next year and hope to see noticable results!"

[YEA]  01/17/2007: Joy from Chicago, IL: "Hi, I have been trying to find natural cures for keloid scars and in addition to the information on your site, I also found information that says Gotu Kola is effective at reducing the size of keloid scars. I have not tried it yet, but I have just begun using the lavender and tee tree oil treatment recommended by Ted. I will follow up with updates of my progress."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  04/06/2008: Courtney from Chicago, Illinios: "Someone told me that using Gum Spirit of Turpentine helps dry out keloids completely and they won't come back. She told me to find it at my local pharmacy (or who ever carried it) to see if it worked. I just started and I'm only a week in. It seems to be drying it out very slowly. I have three keloids on my ear. The biggest one is about as big as a pencil eraser on the back of my ear. The second one is on the front side of my ear and it's half the size of my biggest one. And the smallest is where my second ear piercing was. It's about half the size of the second. I tried asprin soulution. I tried using vitamin E as well. None of that was working, in fact my keloids seemed to feed off of it. Not sure if this "remedy" is working either but will see what happens in a month or so."

[YEA]  11/25/2006: Rose from PA: "I burned my hand by taking a pan out of the oven and I had a keloid by the same area. Well, I apply it directly to both areas and cover with a bandage before bedtime every night and within a week or 2 I saw it disappear. I also applied it to my keloid scar after surgery. It does wonders. I thank God. God is good."

[WORKED TEMPORARILY]  06/27/2009: Suresh from New Delhi, India: "I have post heart surgery keloids on my chest. These often itch suddenly and unbearable. so far none of the cure has worked. however, to get relief from severe sudden itchin, application (rubbing) of icecube helps."

[QUESTION]  03/25/2010: Rad from Vancouver, B.c.: "I have a large red keloid on the back of my left earlobe. I have had my piercing for around 4 years now and have had it swell recently around a year ago. At first it was very small but now it has grown considerably bigger. I recently got some Iodine Povidine from a brother's friend and have applied it a few times to the large keloid. I was wondering will this help at all or would there be a faster natural method since I would rather not have it surgically removed at this point."

[YEA]  02/17/2012: Avis2972 from Allentown, Pa replies: "This is the cure.. Try it, you won't regret it! It is amazing to me that doctors and dermatologists keep this simplest of remedies for keloid scars away from their patient. Iodine is so cheap and readily available.. No one should have to endure the shame and physical anguish that it is having keloid scars!!

May all keloids melt to hell!!!!!!! :-)"

01/04/2013: Veritas from Philadelphia, Pa, Usa replies: "For Avis, please share with us a few more details about your experience with iodine. What was your condition and treatment protocol? Thank you."