This gradual, firm growth following a previous cut or surgery is most likely a hypertrophic scar. When the skin heals after an injury or procedure, the body sometimes produces excess collagen, leading to an overgrown, hard nodule. Simple surgical excision has a high recurrence rate (often over 50%), and the keloid can return larger than before.
Treatment Options:--
1. Intralesional Corticosteroid Injections.
2. Surgical Excision with follow up steroid injections, silicone sheets, or pressure therapy to prevent recurrence.
3. Cryotherapy: Freezing the scar tissue with liquid nitrogen, often combined with steroid injections.
*Do not attempt to squeeze, cut, or re-pierce the affected earlobe, as any new injury can accelerate keloid growth.
Please schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon to confirm the diagnosis and determine the management plan.
Next Steps
Consultation with a plastic surgeon