Last updated: September 4, 2026
The following Q&A features a man with a jawline keloid in Maryland who has undergone treatments in the past and is currently undergoing treatment now. September 2026.
Jawline Keloid Treatments Questions and Answers
Answers may have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Question: How old were you when you started to develop the keloid or keloids?
Answer: I was around 16 years old when I first got my keloids.
Question: What caused the keloids to develop?
Answer: The keloids started from acne. I have them on my chest, back and jawline.
Question: What’s your ethnic background?
Answer: I am 50% Mexican and 50% Vietnamese.
Question: What was the first treatment you tried?
Answer: The first treatment was a Kenalog injection at age 16. The keloids were really new and small. The injection hurt so bad and I’m almost positive the needle size the doctor used was wrong.
Question: What concentration of Kenalog did you get?
Answer: I don’t know but I feel like it was a low concentration because my keloids exploded in size after the shots and I never got treatment again. Then when I was 20 years old I went to Dr. Tirgan in NYC. He recommended cryotherapy and it did shrink the keloid, but the healing process was brutal. The keloid came back to the original size. I’m guessing my lack of follow up of treatment with injections didn’t help but the cost and distance played a role.
What treatments have you tried recently?
Answer: In 2026 I did Kenalog 40 shots both in June and July. The Kenalog 40 did a good amount of shrinkage on my keloid and reduced the itchiness. In August I got Kenalog combined with 5-FU for the first time. I plan to continue getting injections.
Comments from the editor are below.
The doctor he saw in NYC was Dr. Tirgan. Here is his website: https://www.keloid212.com/
While I believe Dr. Tirgan has extensive experience treating keloid scars, many patients may be able to effectively flatten their keloids with a dermatologist in their own city if they understand what treatment approach and steroid concentration to request.
Kenalog Steroid Injections For Keloid Scars
Kenalog is a brand name for the corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide, the steroid used for keloid injections. In the United States, Kenalog is the more commonly used brand among dermatologists, but any reputable brand will do.
Triamcinolone acetonide is available in different concentrations, commonly ranging from 10 mg/mL to 40 mg/mL. The higher the number, the stronger the concentration. The stronger the concentration, the greater the flattening effect.
This patient’s story is all too familiar. At just 16 years old, he sought treatment from a medical professional and received steroid injections. It is highly likely that the dermatologist used Kenalog at a concentration of 10 mg/mL. The steroid injection not only fails to work because the concentration is too weak, but the needle itself may further irritate the keloid tissue. It is important to remember that keloid scars can continue to grow on their own. Each time a needle is inserted into a keloid, the tissue is being physically irritated and subjected to another minor injury.
The patient sees no progress from the steroid injections because the doctor did not use a strong enough concentration. As the keloids continue to grow, he understandably concludes that steroid injections are ineffective, through no fault of his own. He does not go in for further treatments. The keloids grow larger. He’s left with no obvious solutions. This outcome is not unique to him, it’s happened to many people with keloid scars.
Important: Not All Steroid Injections Are the Same
If you have keloid scars that are not incredibly tiny, this is especially relevant to you. If you’re going to invest the time, money, and effort to see a dermatologist every four to five weeks for steroid injections, you have to be getting the right concentration of steroid injections.
A common issue with keloid treatment is that dermatologists often inject the keloid scars with a steroid concentration that is too low to have an impact. Whether this is out of caution or simply a lack of experience treating keloids, I can’t say. But dermatologists will often start and continue with Kenalog at a concentration of 10 mg/mL if you don’t request a higher concentration. Keloid scars are not going to be flattened with a concentration of just 10 mg/mL.
Based on my experience, unless the keloid scar is incredibly tiny, opt for undiluted Kenalog 40 mg/mL. No saline or lidocaine. This simply means asking your doctor not to mix the Kenalog with anything else. In other words, the Kenalog would be injected undiluted, directly from the vial into the keloid scar.
A dermatologist may push back on the 40 mg/mL concentration and caution that atrophy or skin thinning is a possibility with Kenalog 40. Thank them for their caution, but insist on the 40 mg/mL. Not only is skin thinning unlikely, but even if it does occur, it still is a FAR better outcome for the patient than the keloid itself. Go back every four to five weeks for treatment until it’s flat. Apply lotion daily, and if you’re willing to go further, apply silicone sheets as well.
For further information about using triamcinolone acetonide (steroid injections for keloids), you can check out this article or check out the FAQ questions on Kenalog.
Kenalog Steroid Injections for Keloid Scars
For information on how I personally treated my keloids, check out this article:
Chest Keloid Treatment: What Actually Worked
I am not a doctor or medical professional. Any information on keloidjournal.com is based on personal experience with keloids, conversations with others who experience keloids, and independent research. No information is intended as medical advice. Consult a dermatologist.
