Keloid negatively affects body image.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Keloid is a healing disorder that occurs exclusively in humans. This pathology is considered a benign cicatricial neoplasm, whose physiopathogenesis has not yet completely clarified. Its disfiguring appearance often could potentially cause a disturbance in the patient regarding his/her body image. The objective is to evaluate the impact of keloid on body image.

METHODS

61 patients with keloid in socially exposed regions of the body were included. The participants were submitted to clinical evaluation, composed of anamnesis and physical examination, and answered two questionnaires: the Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale (BDSS) questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale - Unifesp/EPM.

RESULTS

Forty percent of the patients had negative aspects of body image (BDSS score≥6). The scores of these patients on the Rosenberg Scale reached an average of 10.5 (p<0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of a keloid negatively affects body image.