Chest Keloid Treatment: What Actually Worked

Last updated: September 25, 2026

If you’re looking for chest keloid treatment that actually works, this article is for you.

Chest keloids most commonly develop from acne, though surgery or injury can be another cause. Regardless of how your keloids formed, they’re affecting your life. Whether they’re itchy, painful, embarrassing, or still growing, you want to find a real and lasting solution.

I took this “after” picture next to the window, so this is what it looks like in direct natural sunlight.

I took this “after” picture under an overhead light in the bedroom, so this is what it looks like under a ceiling fan light.

This “after” picture is taken in the mirror under ceiling lighting.

If you’re unfamiliar with my story, I developed acne in my teens and early 20s that hardened into keloids. If you’re still breaking out, preventing new keloids from forming is just as important as treating existing ones. Read this article to learn how to prevent acne from becoming keloid scars:

Prevent Acne from Causing Keloids

The first thing to accept is that most dermatologists aren’t going to be an expert on treating keloids, and they are not to blame. Most haven’t had much experience treating keloid scars as it’s not a common skin condition. Some may not have even followed a single patient through the full course of treatment to see the before-and-after results. The reality is that keloid scars are just plain difficult to treat! You have to take charge, applying a combination of strategies that have actually worked for someone who has been through it all.

Chest Keloid Treatment: The Combination Strategy

There are 3 components to this strategy: Kenalog-40 injections, daily moisturizing and consistent use of medical-grade silicone sheeting secured with Hypafix tape. Of the three components of this strategy, steroid injections make the biggest difference. If you choose only two, I recommend combining steroid injections with daily lotion application. And if you’re willing to deal with the hassle of keeping silicone sheets taped to your skin, I believe combining all three methods offers the best chance for maximum improvement.

For a detailed breakdown of each individual treatment, see the links below. Otherwise, here’s the shorter version.

Kenalog Steroid Injections for Keloids

Silicone Sheeting for Keloid Scars

Kenalog-40 Steroid Shots

Every 4 to 5 weeks, you’ll get Kenalog-40 injections into each of your chest keloids. Don’t accept a lower concentration; Kenalog-40 is the way to go. Dermatologists tend to overstate the risk of skin atrophy, so don’t let that talk you down to Kenalog-10 or anything diluted below 40 mg/mL. If they do insist, they’re just delaying progress and costing you money by making you have to come back for more visits over a longer period of time.

Kenalog is the brand name for triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid injected directly into the keloid. Each injection gradually reduces size, with the goal of flattening the keloid flush with the surrounding skin over time. This requires multiple treatments, so plan for 10 to 13 dermatologist visits over 12 months for larger, thicker chest keloids. If your keloid is small, you may see results in fewer than 5 injections. Don’t ease up just because you’re seeing progress. Keloids are incredibly stubborn. Keep getting shots until they’re fully flattened. Leave them unfinished and they’ll come back and start to grow. 

Even after successful treatment with 95%+ improvement, keloids can reactivate long after treatment ends. If a previously treated keloid begins growing again, an occasional maintenance injection is usually enough to suppress it and return it to dormancy.

Daily Moisturizer

Moisturizing daily is non-negotiable. I used Lubriderm Advanced Therapy, an extra-thick lotion. Keeping the keloid scar hydrated is essential to softening keloid tissue over time. You need to make lotion a part of your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth. Use whatever lotion you’re comfortable with. I still apply lotion to the remnants of my keloid scars daily after my shower, years later.

Keloid tissue has a dysfunctional skin barrier that loses moisture faster than normal skin. That dehydration triggers the keratinocytes in your skin to overproduce collagen, which is part of what keeps keloids growing. A heavy-duty moisturizer works against this by creating an occlusive barrier that locks in moisture and actively hydrates the scar, suppressing the signal that drives excess collagen production. The result over time is reduced itching, improved pliability, and a scar that’s less biologically active. Lotion alone won’t flatten a keloid, but it addresses the underlying mechanism keeping it alive, which is exactly why it helps as part of a combined approach.

Silicone Sheets With Hypafix Tape

Amazon Hypafix Tape

Silicone sheeting works by creating a barrier over the keloid that locks in moisture. That sustained hydration signals the skin to slow down collagen production, the same overactive collagen production that keeps keloids raised and growing. Worn consistently, it improves texture and color first, and can gradually reduce the thickness of the keloid over time.

Keloid scars tend to be thicker than normal scars. Unlike other scars, they keep growing if left untreated. The thin silicone tapes and cheaper sheets you find in drugstores or on Amazon aren’t designed for that. They’re fine for minor blemishes, not for keloids.

The optimal thickness for a silicone sheet in my experience is between 1 mm and 2 mm. There are a handful of DTC silicone sheet brands that provide high-quality, thicker silicone sheets meant for tougher scars. As for securing the silicone sheet, use Hypafix tape. It’s thin, has good durability for holding the silicone in place, and does not irritate the skin. I’ve tried many other tapes that will easily peel off from your shirt and the friction of moving around.

Your Daily Routine

1. Immediately after your shower, moisturize your keloid scars with lotion. Let the lotion dry a minute or two.
2. Using scissors, cut a piece of silicone sheeting to match the size of your keloid scar. Avoid wasting silicone sheeting by cutting only what you need. Apply the silicone sheet directly to the scar.
3. Cut an appropriately sized piece of Hypafix tape and apply it over the silicone sheet to secure it in place.
4. Put on your clothes gently so you don’t inadvertently remove the tape or silicone sheet.
5. Wear the silicone sheet until you shower the next day (so effectively 20 to 24 hours each day) or at minimum overnight for 10 hours. Repeat daily. The silicone sheet you cut out can be used for three to four weeks at a time before it loses its effectiveness. If it gets greasy or dirty, run it under water and then dry it with your hands. Do not wash it daily, though.

Whether you have 1 chest keloid or 10, you have to manage your expectations and understand there are no magic bullets or quick fixes. If you apply a consistent approach over 6 to 12 months, including regular Kenalog-40 injections, daily moisturizing, and consistent use of silicone sheets, you should see tangible results.