Less is More in Keloid Disease : a Clinical Study

The overall aim of the present research project was to improve health care for keloid patients. We started by determining the burden of keloid disease and analyzing what factors add to the disease burden. After identifying which factors cause the greatest quality of life impairment, treatments can be aimed to improve these factors affecting quality of life most. Many keloid patients report pain as their main symptom, however, often no treatment is prescribed to relieve pain. To explore symptomatic therapy options we need to know more of the etiology and kind of pain in keloid patients.

Our aim to reduce the use of brachytherapy in keloid patients stimulated us to investigate whether other treatments could be effectively used as well and whether radiation doses could be reduced. In this way we wanted to provide scientific evidence guiding clinicians in their choice of treatment, mainly based on patient reported outcome measures.