Jawline Keloid Treatment: What Actually Worked

Last updated: September 28, 2026

If you have jawline or facial keloids and are looking for firsthand treatment that worked, this article is for you.

Although facial keloids can develop from different types of skin injury, they often form from unhealed acne.

I had keloids on both sides of my jawline. They developed from acne during my teenage years. If you are still getting acne and developing new keloids, read this article on how to prevent new keloids from forming:

Prevent Acne from Causing Keloids

The first thing I want to emphasize to anyone who has recently developed a keloid on the jawline is this: treat it early. Do not delay seeking treatment. Keloids can continue to grow over time, and larger keloids are more difficult to treat.

If you have had a jawline keloid for some time and are only now considering treatment, don’t be discouraged. Meaningful improvement is achievable, even if the keloid has been present for years.

Face and Jawline Keloid Treatment: The Combination Strategy

There are 3 components to this strategy: Kenalog 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.

I go into greater detail about Kenalog steroid injections and silicone sheets in these articles below.

Kenalog Steroid Injections for Keloids

Silicone Sheeting for Keloid Scars

Concentration of Kenalog Injections AKA Steroid Shots

Visit your dermatologist for Kenalog (triamcinolone acetonide) steroid injections roughly once per month, or every 5 weeks.

For keloid scars located anywhere other than the face, I generally recommend Kenalog-40. Because the face is highly visible, it’s reasonable to start with Kenalog-10 or 20 mg/mL instead. If the keloid scar doesn’t show any noticeable improvement after the first shot, increase the concentration.

The number in the name (for example, Kenalog-40 or Kenalog-10) refers to the concentration of triamcinolone acetonide in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). A higher number indicates a higher concentration of steroid. For example, Kenalog-10 contains 10 mg/mL, while Kenalog-40 contains 40 mg/mL, making Kenalog-10 one-quarter the concentration of Kenalog-40.

Most dermatologists will start with Kenalog-10 on the face because they’re concerned about the risk of skin thinning (atrophy) from using a stronger concentration. That caution is reasonable on the first visit, especially if your keloid is small and relatively flat. However, for thicker or more prominent facial keloids, it is perfectly acceptable to politely insist on a higher concentration, such as 20 mg/mL all the way up to 40 mg/mL.

Even if your keloid becomes fully flat, the keloid can start to grow again months or years after initial success. An occasional Kenalog steroid shot, on a much less frequent basis, is usually enough to keep it in check.

How Many Kenalog Steroid Injections For Jawline Keloids Do I Need?

To achieve meaningful results, defined as flattening the keloid by 80% to 100%, you need a long-term, consistent approach.

Receive Kenalog steroid injections every 4–5 weeks until the scar is reduced to skin level or very close to it.

• For a very small jawline keloid, you can see flattening in fewer than 5 injections (within 6 months or less).
• For larger or thicker jawline keloids, it can take 8 to 12 injections or more, which can mean up to a full year of treatment.

It’s very important that you take an active role in your treatment. Pay close attention to how well your first Kenalog injection works.

If there is little or no noticeable improvement after the first session, insist on a higher concentration for future injections. Continuing with a dose that is too weak, such as Kenalog-10, is a waste of both your time and money.

While you may notice some fading of the keloid’s redness or discoloration after steroid injections, don’t expect dramatic color improvement. The primary benefit of Kenalog injections is reducing the size, thickness, and firmness of the keloid rather than restoring its color. Leave the remaining color change to moisturizer, silicone sheets, and time.

Daily Moisturizer

Moisturizing your keloid scars daily is important for a few reasons. First off, you should know that excessive dryness when I had acne is partially what made me susceptible to keloid scars in the first place. Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized is important for every person, but for those who have keloids or are prone to keloids, it’s especially important. Keeping the keloid scar hydrated is helpful in that it softens the keloid tissue over time.

Keloid tissue has a dysfunctional skin barrier that loses moisture much faster than normal skin. This dehydration signals keratinocytes to overproduce collagen, which helps drive the continued growth of the keloid.

A heavy-duty moisturizer (a thick, long-lasting one) helps counteract this by forming a protective barrier that locks in moisture and keeps the scar well-hydrated. Over time, this can reduce the biological signals that fuel excess collagen production. As a result, you will notice less itching, greater pliability, and a less “active” scar.

While lotion certainly won’t flatten a keloid, consistent moisturizing addresses an important underlying mechanism and works well as part of a combined treatment approach.

I personally used Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Lotion, but use whatever lotion you like.

Silicone Sheets with Hypafix Tape

Silicone sheeting works by creating an occlusive barrier over the keloid that helps lock in moisture and keep the scar hydrated. This hydrated environment is thought to help regulate collagen production and scar remodeling. With consistent daily use over several months or more, silicone sheets can improve a keloid’s texture and color, followed by a gradual reduction in its thickness and firmness.

Keloids are different from ordinary scars. They are typically thicker, firmer, and may continue to grow beyond the original wound if left untreated. Knowing this, not all silicone sheets are equally effective. Many of the very thin silicone tapes and inexpensive sheets sold in drugstores or online are marketed for general scar care and do not provide the durability that thicker keloids require.

In my experience, silicone sheets that are 1–2 mm thick work best for established keloids. Several direct-to-consumer brands make thicker, medical-grade silicone sheets designed for more challenging scars.

To keep the silicone sheet securely in place, I recommend Hypafix tape. It’s thin, flexible, and adheres well without causing skin irritation. I’ve tried many other tapes, and most peeled away easily from the friction of clothing and movement, or, worse, left a rash.

Amazon Hypafix Tape

Your Daily Routine

1. Immediately after your shower, moisturize your facial keloid scars with lotion. Let the lotion dry for a few minutes.
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 keloid scar.
3. Cut an appropriately sized piece of Hypafix tape and apply it over the silicone sheet to secure it in place.
4. Wear the silicone sheet until you go to work the next day (so around 12 hours or as long as you can). Repeat daily. I actually would wear the silicone sheet at work but frequently was asked about it, so do whatever you want but know that the longer you wear it, the better the results. 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.
5. If you have facial hair, avoid shaving directly over a keloid with a manual razor whenever possible. The repeated friction and minor cuts from a blade can irritate the keloid. Use an electric razor and shave gently around and over the keloid. If thick facial hair grows around the keloid, keep in mind that silicone sheets may not adhere as well. Staying clean shaven will improve the sheet’s ability to stay in place.