Korean J Dermatol.  2023 Aug;61(7):437-442.

Bleomycin Intralesional Injection in Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars Unresponsive to Previous Corticosteroid Intralesional Injection and/or Laser Treatment: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

• Noh H
• Kim H
• Shim J
• Oh SJ
• Park J
• Lee D
• Lee JH

Abstract

The treatment of pathological scars, such as keloids and hypertrophic scars, can be challenging for dermatologists. The first-line treatment is intralesional corticosteroid injection, especially when patients complain of pain or discomfort. Laser treatment can also be used in patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars. However, even after multiple sessions of intralesional corticosteroid injections and laser treatment, desirable outcomes may not be achieved, and recurrence is common. Recent studies on the efficacy of intralesional bleomycin injection (BLMILI) in treating keloids and hypertrophic scars have suggested that a significant improvement is observed after BLMILI. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of BLMILI for patients who do not respond to other treatments, such as intralesional corticosteroid injection or laser treatment. Here, we report four cases of BLMILI in keloids and hypertrophic scars that were unresponsive to previous intralesional corticosteroid injection and/or laser treatment.

Keyword

Bleomycin; Hypertrophic scar; Keloid