Keloids (Hypertrophic Scarring Spectrum)
A regenerative approach to calm scarring and improve skin quality
Keloids form when the skin’s repair program stays switched on too long, driving excessive collagen deposition, stiffness, redness, itching, and pain. Standard options steroid injections, pressure/silicone therapy, laser, surgery, radiation help many people but can carry high recurrence rates. Stem-cell–based therapy is being developed as an adjunct to quiet the inflammatory–fibrotic loop and support healthier remodeling. Umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (UC-MSCs) and their conditioned medium/secretome are of special interest because they deliver anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic signals that re-educate local fibroblasts and immune cells, rather than simply suppressing them.
How UC-MSCs and their secretome may help
UC-MSCs act less like spare parts and more like cellular coordinators. They release growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles that (1) reduce pro-inflammatory signaling, (2) down-shift pathways that overproduce type-I collagen, (3) encourage matrix breakdown and balanced rebuilding, and (4) improve local micro-circulation and re-epithelialization. Clinically, this can translate into softer, flatter, paler scars with less itch and pain over time. Secretome/conditioned medium (UC-CM) aims to deliver many of these benefits without transplanting whole cells, and in lab work UC-CM has directly suppressed keloid-fibroblast activity and TGF-β–driven myofibroblast features.
What the research shows
Two complementary human data sets support this direction. A case report of extensive post-burn keloid found that repeated UC-MSC plus UC-CM treatments were associated with progressive reductions in keloid thickness (12 → 4 mm), area, itch and pain scores, and visible softening/paling over nine months without reported adverse effects. The authors highlight MSC-driven paracrine effects as a plausible mechanism for faster, cleaner remodeling.
Building on that signal, a double-blind randomized pilot study compared intralesional UC-MSCs, UC-CM, and triamcinolone for established keloids. Measured by CT-based volume, UC-MSCs showed the largest regression, closely followed by UC-CM; both outperformed steroid alone. Improvements mirrored biology: higher local IL-10 (an anti-inflammatory cytokine tied to scarless fetal healing), better Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores (pain/stiffness, vascularity, relief, flexibility, area), and a healthier collagen balance with a reduced type-I:type-III ratio. In short, cell-based and cell-free UC-cord approaches produced broader, more durable improvements than steroid in this early study.
Where patients tend to notice change
When progress occurs, it usually shows up along four tracks: (1) Symptoms less itch and pain and fewer flares; (2) Feel a softer, more supple surface with better glide; (3) Look paler color and flatter contour that blends more with surrounding skin; and (4) Function easier range of motion when scars cross joints or the neck/shoulder line. In published work these subjective changes align with objective trends in POSAS domains, imaging-based volume, and histology/biomarkers such as IL-10 and collagen profiling.
Why umbilical cord sources are a strong fit
UC-MSCs expand readily and show robust paracrine activity, including angiogenic and neurotrophic factors that promote high-quality repair. Analyses also suggest that UC-CM contains a rich mix of anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair mediators (not just VEGF-A) that recruit endothelial cells and macrophages in ways that speed re-epithelialization while dialing down fibrosis. This maps cleanly to keloid biology, where the goal is balanced remodeling rather than aggressive suppression alone.
Other stem-cell options under study
Beyond UC-MSCs, researchers are exploring bone-marrow and adipose MSCs for similar immunomodulatory/antifibrotic effects, and amnion-derived products that have shown direct inhibition of keloid-fibroblast activation in vitro. A fast-moving frontier is cell-free therapy purified secretome or extracellular vesicles which may one day complement or substitute for cell injections in appropriate cases. The shared theme is not “erasing” a scar, but re-educating the wound niche so collagen is laid down in a more normal architecture.
Stem Cell Therapy for Keloids at Vega Stem Cell, Bangkok
Stem cell therapy as a regenerative option for individuals with keloids, aiming to regulate abnormal scar formation, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy skin repair. Treatment is primarily administered through intravenous (IV) infusion, which helps reduce systemic inflammation and support the body’s natural healing response. For targeted improvement, local injections can be performed directly into the keloid to enhance cell activity, improve texture, and minimize raised scar tissue.
Stem cell therapy in improving scar thickness, color, and elasticity when used alongside conventional treatments. All procedures are conducted under medical supervision to ensure optimal results and long-term skin health.
Putting it all together
Keloids persist when inflammation, fibroblast overdrive, and disordered collagen keep each other going. UC-MSC therapy and increasingly the UC-CM secretome aims to tilt that balance back: calmer cytokine signaling (higher IL-10), better vascular support, and a shift toward type-III–rich, more flexible collagen. Early clinical evidence shows reductions in volume, symptoms, and collagen-I:III ratio, with POSAS improvements that match what patients feel and see. For the right candidates, this approach can be woven into comprehensive scar care, with success measured in what matters comfort, appearance, and ease of movement.
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