Abstract
Keloid scars are a common result of abnormal wound heal-ing and can cause pain, discomfort, and cosmetic concerns, especially among individuals of Black, Hispanic, or Asian descent. Conventional treatments are often invasive, costly, and only partially effective. This case report describes a 45-year-old African American female who developed a promi-nent keloid scar following emergency hysterectomy for post-surgical sepsis. The patient began a non-invasive regi-men of oral Vitamin D3 and K2 supplementation, along with topical application of isopropanol and salicylic acid. Treat-ment was applied twice daily for six weeks, then once daily, and eventually every other day. After four months, the pa-tient experienced resolution of pain and itching, reduced keloid size and elevation, improved skin texture, and no new scar formation. This outcome suggests that combining vitamin supplementation with topical antiseptic care may offer a promising, cost-effective alternative for keloid man-agement. To our knowledge this is the first case to use me-thyl salicylate to treat KD. Further research is warranted to validate these findings.
Scar tissue forms as part of the body’s natural healing process following skin injury due to surgery, trauma, or infection. This process involves cellular mitosis and collagen deposition. However, excessive collagen production or abnormal healing can result in raised scars, such as hypertrophic scars or keloids. Keloids are typically more than 4 mm above the skin surface and may continue to grow beyond the original wound margins. These scars can cause discomfort, pain, and restricted movement, especially when located near joints or areas subject to friction.
Keloid formation is more prevalent among individuals of Black, Hispanic, or Asian descent 5,12. Treatment options—such as corticosteroid injections, silicone sheets, or surgical excision—are often expensive, invasive, and not always effective 7, 8. These treatments generally reduce the appearance of scar tissue but do not fully restore normal skin architecture 9-11.
Only a few studies have conducted a preliminary investigation into the possible benefits of using methyl salicylate as a mild anti-inflammatory treatment for autoimmune disorders14, 16 However, most of these studies have focused on the reduction in the gene expression of inflammatory producing interleukins and not clinical outcome of a treatment.