A Holistic Approach to Unravel Keloid Pathogenesis and Optimize Therapeutic Outcomes

The article proposes a holistic approach to treating keloids, emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic inflammation and the pathological microenvironment, or "keloid constitution," rather than viewing keloids solely as localized skin lesions. Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the approach combines systemic treatments, such as lifestyle and dietary changes, stress management, and TCM herbal medicines, with local therapies like surgery and chemo/radiotherapy. Case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy, showing that it can lead to sustained keloid resolution and prevent recurrence. However, the study notes the need for more robust evidence from randomized trials and highlights the complexity of integrating lifestyle changes with therapeutic agents.