Genetic causes of keloids raised spreading scars found mainly in people of African Asian and Hispanic descent.

Keloids are thick raised scars that spread beyond the original wound. These scars can cause pain and itching. They can also be disfiguring. This can affect a person’s quality of life. There is no good way to treat keloids once they have formed. We do not know why some people are more likely to get keloids. Keloids tend to run in families and some ethnic groups. The tendency to form keloids is found mainly in people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. Individuals of African ancestry are 20 times more likely than individuals of European ancestry to get keloids. This project will use BioVU to look for genetic factors linked to keloids. Researchers will first look for genetic changes (variants) in African Americans with keloids. They will then compare the variants found in this group with other ethnic groups. The findings will help us better understand what causes keloids. This could help us find new treatments.