Shoulder Keloid Treatment: What Actually Worked

Last updated: September 25, 2026

If you have shoulder keloids, you’re in the right place. 

I developed shoulder keloids as a teenager and young adult from acne, in addition to keloids on my chest. If you’re dealing with both, know that this article overlaps with my chest keloid guide:

Chest Keloid Treatment

That’s intentional since the treatment approach is largely the same. 

Where shoulder keloids can differ is the joint movement involved, which can make them trickier to treat than chest keloids. That said, big improvement, and in some cases full flattening, is still very achievable, so don’t let that discourage you.

My right shoulder, before proper treatment.

You can see that the two smaller keloid scars lower on my arm are completely gone, leaving behind only very faint white marks. The larger scar still has a slight amount of redness, but it is now completely flat.

If you’re still getting acne breakouts that are turning into keloid scars, read this article I wrote on preventing that from happening. In my experience, it’s almost entirely preventable, so if you’ve developed a new keloid from acne in the last few months or year, this is worth reading:  

Prevent Acne from Causing Keloids

Right off the bat, you need to realize that most dermatologists aren’t going to be keloid experts. I’ve visited more dermatology offices than I care to remember, and even doctors who specialize in keloids are often stumped on how to treat them effectively, so it’s not their fault! There’s no easy pill for keloids. What it takes is someone with a long-term approach who’s consistent in applying multiple treatments. I’ve actually gone through this process myself, so this isn’t some academic exercise.

Shoulder 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 Kenalog-40 and silicone sheeting, read these articles below. 

Kenalog Steroid Injections for Keloids

Silicone Sheeting for Keloid Scars

Every 4 to 5 weeks, you’ll go to your dermatologist for undiluted Kenalog-40 injections into each of your shoulder keloids. Make sure the concentration is 40 mg/ml with no dilution. The stronger the concentration, the stronger the impact. If your doctor suggests anything less than Kenalog-40 for shoulder keloids, push back. Atrophy may be a legitimate concern for thinner-skinned areas like the jawline, but even the smallest shoulder keloids can typically handle 40 mg/ml. No saline or lidocaine required. 

Kenalog is the brand name for triamcinolone acetonide, the steroid injected directly into the keloid. Each injection gradually reduces the size, with the goal of flattening the keloid flush with the surrounding skin. This takes multiple treatments, so plan for anywhere from 6 to 13 injections per keloid over a 6 to 12 month period, particularly if you have a larger shoulder keloid. Smaller shoulder keloids may be flattened in less than 5 injections. 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. Even today, years later, after finding success, I still go back to my dermatologist from time to time for a maintenance Kenalog shot when a few of my keloids show signs of starting to grow again.

Daily Moisturizer 

Applying your lotion of choice to your keloid scars daily is the easiest, cheapest, and lowest-effort thing you can do to reduce the itchiness and tightness that often come with keloids. I wouldn’t call it massaging, but deeply rubbing the lotion in for a minute or so after each shower has, in my experience, played a role in softening the scar and improving its coloration over time.

I personally used Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Lotion, an extra-thick lotion that does a great job keeping my skin and keloid scars hydrated. Still to this day, years later, I apply it to the remnants of my keloid scars every day after my shower.

Keloid scars don’t hold onto moisture as well as normal skin, which can leave the tissue dry and tight. Keeping it consistently hydrated helps improve flexibility over time and supports the softening and coloration changes I personally experienced.

Silicone Sheets With Hypafix Tape 

Silicone sheets work by sealing moisture against the keloid. That sustained hydration tells the skin to ease up on the collagen overproduction that keeps keloids raised and growing. With consistent wear, you’ll typically notice changes in texture and color with thickness gradually decreasing over a longer stretch of time.

Keloids are thicker and more stubborn than typical scars, and they don’t stop growing on their own without treatment. The thin silicone tape or basic sheets you’d find at a drugstore or on Amazon don’t cut it in my opinion; they’re built for minor blemishes or tiny scars, not keloids.

In my experience, the right thickness for a keloid sheet is somewhere between 1 mm and 2 mm, and a handful of direct-to-consumer brands make sheets specifically built at that thickness for tougher scars like these. For securing it, Hypafix tape is what’s worked best for me; it stays put through movement and friction against clothing without irritating the skin, which is more than I can say for most other tapes I’ve tried. 

Amazon Hypafix Tape

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 shoulder 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.