What my keloid scars have taught me about confidence

Keloid scars are raised scars that form when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process. Unlike most scars, they grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound and can continue to enlarge over time. They can develop after surgery, burns, acne, piercings or even relatively minor skin injuries such as ingrown hairs. Keloids can affect anyone, but they are more common in people with skin of colour, including those of African, Asian and Hispanic heritage, and most often develop between puberty and the age of 30.*

For Ada, keloid scars have been part of her life since her teenage years.

"I developed one on my neck after surgery, while the one on my chest formed after I tried to remove an ingrown hair," she says. 

For many people, keloid scars are more than a cosmetic concern. They can feel itchy, tender or painful, and their appearance can have a significant impact on confidence and wellbeing.

"To me, my keloids have always felt like they have a life of their own," Ada explains. "They're thick, shiny and the itching can be relentless – the kind that demands your attention and is impossible to ignore."

Alongside the physical discomfort came the emotional impact.

"People stare. People ask questions. Over time, those moments made me feel self-conscious and affected my confidence."

For years, Ada found herself dressing to hide her scars and avoiding conversations about them.

Like many people living with keloids, Ada hoped treatment would eventually remove her scars. Over time, she reached a point where the treatment options available to her had been exhausted.

"It wasn't easy to accept," she says. "For years, I'd held on to the hope that there would be something that could remove them."

Although letting go of that hope was difficult, it also became the beginning of a different kind of healing.

"I slowly realised I needed to stop measuring my progress by whether my scars changed. Instead, I began learning how to accept them."

Working in the beauty industry has also changed Ada's perspective.

"Many of my clients have shared their own experiences and insecurities with me, and those conversations have stayed with me."

Supporting others encouraged her to extend that same compassion to herself.

"The reassurance I give my clients is often exactly what I need to remind myself. I've had to learn to believe those words too."

Today, Ada sees her scars as one part of who she is, rather than something that defines her.

"My keloid scars are not a reflection of flawed skin. They are part of my story, but they do not define my worth."

By sharing her experience, she hopes to challenge assumptions about visible differences and encourage others to be kinder to themselves.

Ada Osigwe

*Information in this introduction is based on guidance from the British Association of Dermatologists and the American Academy of Dermatology.