Concerns · Breakouts, Scars & Texture · CityLink Mall
Keloid Treatment in Singapore
Keloids are not ordinary scars. They keep growing after the wound has healed, so they need a doctor's plan rather than a quick fix.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 8 October 2026
Quick answer
- Keloids are not ordinary scars. They keep growing after the wound has healed, so they need a doctor's plan rather than a quick fix.
- Medical, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic (Pacific Plaza, Orchard): Luminescence Laser.
- Assessment first; individual results vary. Medical pricing is given at consultation.
A keloid is a firm, raised scar that spreads beyond the edge of the original injury. It may be pink, red or darker than the surrounding skin, and it often itches, feels tender or tightens with movement. Common spots include the earlobes after piercing, the chest and shoulders after acne, and surgical or vaccination sites. If you are reading up on keloid treatment in Singapore, the first thing to know is that keloids behave very differently from flat or slightly raised scars.
Normal healing switches off once a wound has closed. In a keloid, inflammation in the deeper layer of the dermis carries on, and fibroblasts keep laying down thick bundles of collagen. That is why a keloid can slowly enlarge months or years after a small injury. Skin tension and movement feed the process, which is why the chest, shoulders and upper back are such common sites. Genetics matter too: keloids run in families and are more common in people of Asian and African ancestry.
A hypertrophic scar looks similar but stays within the borders of the original wound and often softens over time. Telling the two apart guides the plan, and a doctor also checks that a growing lump is really a scar and not another kind of growth. SkinRev does not treat keloids. Assessment and treatment are carried out by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, and enquiries made at SkinRev are routed there.
“A keloid that is simply cut out can grow back larger, so the honest answer is a combined, patient plan — not a one-session removal.”
— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic
- Layer involved
- The reticular (deeper) dermis; injuries that stay superficial do not form keloids
- Keloid vs hypertrophic scar
- A keloid grows beyond the wound edge; a hypertrophic scar stays within it
- Common triggers
- Ear piercing, acne, surgery, vaccination, insect bites, burns, chickenpox
- Higher-risk sites
- Chest, shoulders, upper back and earlobes
- Who is more prone
- People of Asian and African ancestry, and those with a family history
- Laser listed for this concern
- Luminescence Laser, a non-ablative protocol, at IN Eternity Clinic
What goes where
The honest ladder:
non-invasive first, medical when it is needed
At SkinRev Lab · non-invasive
There is no non-invasive treatment at SkinRev Lab that changes this concern. We will say so at the first visit and pass your enquiry to IN Eternity Clinic.
At IN Eternity Clinic · Dr Sin Yong
Luminescence Laser — A non-ablative laser protocol performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic that heats the dermis without breaking the skin surface. For keloids it is used as one part of a combined plan, mainly to help with redness, texture and the feel of the scar, rather than as a stand-alone cure. How it works
Enquiries to SkinRev Lab about medical treatments are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong performs them.
There is no non-invasive SkinRev route for keloids, so anyone with a keloid, or a scar that is thickening, spreading, itching or painful, should see a doctor. Seeing Dr Sin Yong early helps, because young, active keloids are usually easier to manage than large, long-standing ones. Seek prompt review if a lump grows quickly, bleeds, breaks down or appeared without any injury, since these features need a check for other growths. If you know you form keloids, say so before any piercing, tattoo or procedure. It also helps to bring old photos showing how the scar has changed, and to list what has been tried before, such as silicone products or injections, and how the scar responded. That history shapes which combination is tried first.
Where this happens
Assessment and non-invasive care — SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall #B1-28, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393. Underground from City Hall MRT and Esplanade MRT; a short walk from Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Suntec and Bugis. Open daily 11am–8pm.
Medical treatment — IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT (three stops from City Hall on the North-South line). Mon–Sat 11am–8pm, closed Sunday. Treatments are performed by Dr Sin Yong. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.
What the research says
The evidence,
with sources
A review of keloid biology concludes that keloids and hypertrophic scars are inflammatory disorders of the reticular dermis rather than tumours. Superficial injuries that do not reach this layer do not produce them, and pro-inflammatory signals are raised in keloid tissue. The review notes that the treatments in use, from injections and tapes to compression, cryotherapy and tension-reducing surgery, all work by damping down inflammation. The Japan Scar Workshop's consensus document adds that people of Asian and African ancestry are highly prone to these scars, and sets out a scoring tool and body-site-specific treatment plans.
An international advisory panel on scar management concluded that combining several methods gives the greatest chance of success for keloids and hypertrophic scars, and argued for more active early management of keloids. The panel noted growing support for laser therapy, including pulsed dye and fractional lasers, within that combined approach. Laser research in keloids is mostly small studies of combination treatment, so Dr Sin Yong positions the Luminescence Laser as one supporting step within a wider plan, and individual results vary. Keloids can also return after a good response, so follow-up continues for some time after treatment ends, and early signs of regrowth are treated promptly rather than left to build up again.
References
- Ogawa R. Keloid and hypertrophic scars are the result of chronic inflammation in the reticular dermis. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(3):606.
- Ogawa R, Akita S, Akaishi S, Aramaki-Hattori N, Dohi T, Hayashi T, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars — Japan Scar Workshop Consensus Document 2018. Burns Trauma. 2019;7:39.
- Gold MH, McGuire M, Mustoe TA, Pusic A, Sachdev M, Waibel J, et al. Updated international clinical recommendations on scar management: part 2 — algorithms for scar prevention and treatment. Dermatol Surg. 2014;40(8):825-831.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What does keloid treatment in Singapore usually involve?
It usually involves a combined plan rather than a single procedure. After confirming the diagnosis, Dr Sin Yong looks at the keloid's size, age, site and symptoms, then decides which steps fit, such as the Luminescence Laser, silicone gel or sheeting, pressure, or treatment injected into the scar. Sessions are spaced over months, and the plan is adjusted according to how the scar responds.
How much does keloid treatment in Singapore cost?
Pricing is given at consultation at IN Eternity Clinic, because it depends on how many keloids there are, how large they are and which combination of treatments suits them. SkinRev does not treat keloids, so there is no SkinRev price for this concern. You can enquire at SkinRev in CityLink Mall and we will route your enquiry to the IN Eternity Clinic team.
Can a keloid be removed with surgery?
Cutting a keloid out on its own carries a real risk that it returns, sometimes larger than before, because the tendency to over-scar remains. When surgery is considered, it is usually paired with other measures before and after to lower that risk. Whether surgery is appropriate at all depends on the site and history, and Dr Sin Yong will explain the options and any referral that may be needed.
Can laser alone get rid of a keloid?
Usually not. Lasers can help with redness, texture and how the scar feels, and studies support their use as part of combined treatment. On their own they rarely control a thick, active keloid. That is why the Luminescence Laser is used as one step in a wider plan at IN Eternity Clinic, with the other parts chosen to suit your particular scar.
Is my scar a keloid or a hypertrophic scar?
A hypertrophic scar is raised but stays within the line of the original cut or spot, and it often flattens slowly over a year or two. A keloid spreads past the wound edge into normal skin and tends to keep growing. Both can be red and itchy, so the distinction is not always obvious. A doctor examines the scar and its history to tell them apart.
How can I lower my risk of new keloids?
If you know you are prone, avoid optional skin injuries such as new piercings or tattoos, especially on the chest, shoulders and earlobes. Get acne treated early so inflamed spots do not trigger scars. Before any surgery or procedure, tell the doctor you form keloids so that early scar care can be planned. If a new scar starts to thicken, itch or turn red months after healing, have it seen early, because small, young keloids are usually simpler to manage.