Pressure therapy: the slow, effective keloid treatment

Among keloid treatments, pressure therapy is one of the least glamorous and most underused, yet it has real evidence, especially for preventing recurrence after a keloid is removed.

The principle is simple: steady, continuous compression on a healing wound or scar discourages the collagen overgrowth that forms keloids. For earlobe keloids, custom pressure earrings are worn for months after removal and meaningfully cut the recurrence rate. For other sites, pressure garments and dressings serve the same purpose. The catch is commitment, pressure only works if worn consistently for long stretches, often many hours a day for months, which is where many patients fall short.

Its strength is that it is non-invasive, low-risk, and pairs well with other treatments. Its weakness is the discipline it demands. For the right keloid and a patient willing to wear the device faithfully, pressure therapy is a quietly powerful tool, particularly as part of a post-excision plan to keep a removed keloid from returning. The result rewards persistence rather than offering a quick fix.

Related reading: Keloids in teenagers and young adults and Managing keloid itch, pain, and tenderness.