Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center · Santa Monica & Los Angeles
Acne Keloid Scar Removal
Los Angeles
804 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403 · Near Montana Avenue · (310) 998-5533
Non-surgical acne keloid treatment with cortisone, 5-FU, Vbeam laser plus active acne control by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Sierro at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica
Call (310) 998-5533 Request a Consultation
BoardCertified Dermatologist
DualAcne Control + Keloid Treatment
Kenalog+ 5-FU Combination Protocol
VbeamKeloid Vascular Suppression
AllFitzpatrick Skin Types Treated
Acne Keloid Removal Los Angeles
Stop the Acne. Flatten the Keloid. Treat Both — Together.
Dr. Tiffany Sierro, MD Board-Certified Dermatologist Acne Keloid Treatment · Active Acne Management · Injection Protocol · Vbeam · Kare Plastic Surgery, Santa Monica
Acne keloids occupy the most clinically complex intersection of dermatology: they are simultaneously an active inflammatory disease (the acne) and a pathological wound-healing response to that disease (the keloid). Every uncontrolled inflammatory acne cyst or nodule that fails to resolve normally and crosses into keloid territory enlarges the existing scar, triggers new satellite keloid formation, and makes the entire lesion progressively harder to treat. The most common location is the jawline and mandibular angle — a site of high mechanical tension, high sebaceous gland density, and elevated keloid risk in patients with darker Fitzpatrick skin types who have a genetic predisposition to exuberant scar formation.
At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center at 804 7th Street in Santa Monica near Montana Avenue, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Sierro, MD treats acne keloids as the dual-track clinical problem they are: controlling the active acne with topical retinoids, oral antibiotics, isotretinoin, or biologics when indicated, while simultaneously suppressing the existing keloid with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog) combined with 5-fluorouracil — the most evidence-based injection combination for keloid volume reduction — plus Vbeam 595nm pulsed dye laser to target the abnormal vascularity that sustains keloid growth. When surgical excision is indicated for resistant keloids, national keloid authority Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is on the Kare team to provide the complete spectrum of care.
Protocolacne control + keloid suppression
IITIntralesional Triamcinolone + 5-FU
Vbeam595nm laser for keloid suppression
Surgerywith Dr. raffy if indicated for keloids
Acne Keloid Services at Kare Skin Health Center Santa Monica
- Active acne management — topical + oral + isotretinoin when indicated
- Intralesional triamcinolone (Kenalog 10–40mg/cc) keloid injections
- Triamcinolone + 5-fluorouracil combination injection protocol
- Vbeam 595nm pulsed dye laser — keloid vascular suppression
- Silicone compression therapy — adjunct to injection series
- Cryotherapy — for smaller discrete acne keloids
- Isotretinoin + keloid injection coordination — complex cases
- Surgical excision referral to Dr. Karamanoukian — when indicated
Kare Skin Health Center · Santa Monica · Near Montana Avenue
Are you getting Acne and Keloids?
Clinical Case — Dr. Tiffany Sierro · Kare Skin Health Center, Santa Monica
Acne Keloid — Jawline Presentation
Actual patient of Dr. Tiffany Sierro · Mandibular angle acne keloid · Fitzpatrick type V–VI · Non-surgical treatment protocol initiated
Jawline Acne Keloid — Mandibular Angle · Fitzpatrick Type V–VI Non-surgical treatment initiated: intralesional triamcinolone injection series · Active acne control with topical and systemic agents
Raised, firm, hyperpigmented keloid scar at the mandibular angle with active inflammatory involvement — the highest-recurrence acne keloid presentation. Darker skin types have substantially elevated keloid risk following inflammatory acne. Dr. Sierro’s dual-track protocol addresses active acne to prevent new keloid triggers while simultaneously suppressing the existing keloid with the triamcinolone + 5-FU combination injection series. Dr. Tiffany Sierro · Kare Plastic Surgery, Santa Monica
The Kare Protocol
Non-Surgical Acne Keloid Treatment at Kare
The critical clinical insight in acne keloid management is that treating the keloid without treating the acne produces predictably poor results. Each new inflammatory acne cyst, papule, or nodule that develops within or adjacent to the existing keloid zone reactivates the keloid growth mechanism — undermining the compression and flattening achieved by the injection series. Dr. Sierro manages acne keloids as a single integrated treatment plan: the acne treatment prevents new keloid triggers; the injection-laser protocol suppresses the existing keloid; and the two treatment tracks run in parallel rather than sequentially.
01
Acne Control
Tretinoin + benzoyl peroxide topical protocol, oral antibiotics (doxycycline or minocycline) for inflammatory acne, isotretinoin for severe nodular acne unresponsive to antibiotics. Goal: eliminate the inflammatory acne events that trigger new keloid formation at the jawline.
02
cortisone shots
Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog 10–40mg/cc) combined with 5-fluorouracil injected directly into the keloid every 4–6 weeks. TAC inhibits fibroblast proliferation; 5-FU targets collagen synthesis. The combination outperforms either agent alone for keloid volume reduction.
03
Vbeam 595nm Laser
Pulsed dye laser targeting the abnormal vascular network within the keloid that sustains inflammatory cytokine signaling and drives ongoing collagen overproduction. Vbeam reduces keloid redness, pruritus, and size in parallel with the injection series — a synergistic non-surgical combination.
04
scar defense gel
Medical-grade silicone gel applied continuously to the keloid between injection sessions. Hydration and pressure act on the keloid surface to accelerate flattening achieved by the injection series.
“Its essential that you treat your acne while managing your acne keloid scars.”
Kare Skin Health Center, Santa Monica
Darker skin types and acne keloid risk: Patients with Fitzpatrick type IV–VI skin have substantially elevated keloid risk following inflammatory acne — particularly at the jawline, chest, and back, where tissue tension and sebaceous gland density are highest. Dr. Sierro specifically assesses Fitzpatrick skin type and personal/family keloid history at every acne consultation to identify high-risk patients early — because early injection intervention at the first sign of keloid formation produces significantly better outcomes than treating a fully established keloid years later.
Comprehensive Resources at Kare Plastic Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get acne keloid treatment in Los Angeles?
Kare Plastic Surgery at 804 7th Street in Santa Monica near Montana Avenue offers expert acne keloid management by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Sierro — active acne control combined with intralesional triamcinolone + 5-FU injection series, Vbeam laser, and silicone compression. Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is available for surgical excision when non-surgical treatment reaches its limit. Call (310) 998-5533. We serve patients from Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and all of Los Angeles.
How many injections does it take to flatten an acne keloid?
Most acne keloids require a series of 4–8 intralesional injections spaced 4–6 weeks apart to achieve significant flattening. Smaller, newer keloids (less than 1 year old) often respond more rapidly — sometimes showing 50% or greater flattening within 3 injections. Older, larger, or recurrent keloids may require more sessions and may plateau at partial improvement where surgical excision combined with the injection protocol produces the definitive result. Dr. Sierro sets realistic expectations at the first injection visit based on the keloid size, age, and location.
Can isotretinoin (Accutane) cause or worsen keloids?
Isotretinoin does not cause keloids — but it does impair wound healing, which is why surgical keloid excision is postponed until at least 6–12 months after isotretinoin completion. Intralesional injection therapy for existing keloids can continue during isotretinoin treatment when clinically appropriate. Dr. Sierro coordinates isotretinoin acne therapy with the keloid injection protocol, ensuring the two treatment tracks are timed correctly to maximize benefit from both without interference.
Related Resources at Kare Plastic Surgery
Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center · Santa Monica · Near Montana Avenue
Acne Keloid Consultation
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Tiffany Sierro, board-certified dermatologist at Kare Skin Health Center in Santa Monica — dual-track acne control and keloid suppression with triamcinolone + 5-FU injections, Vbeam laser, and surgical excision by Dr. Karamanoukian when indicated.