title: [Keloids on dark skin: a consecutive series of 456 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Keloids are abnormal growths of fibrous tissue often seen on dark skin. We studied their clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic aspects in 456 consecutive cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study covering a 20-year period describes and analyzes all patients seen for keloids during that period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age range of 15-24 year-olds was affected most often (35.72%), and the male/female sex ratio was 0.66. Pruritus was the most frequent symptom (72.23%). The zones at high risk for keloids were: the trunk (chest and abdominal area) (39.57%) and the face (10.65%).The most frequent causes were various sorts of trauma (75%), in descending order of frequency: cutaneous infections, surgical trauma, ulcerating lesions, and burns. The existence of spontaneous keloids remains controversial. Steroid infiltration used alone or with other medication remains the first-line treatment in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirms the high frequency of keloids in dark skin, especially females. The trunk and face are zones at high risk for keloid formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An underlying trauma must always be sought for keloids on dark skin.
authors.affiliation: Service de dermatologie-IST, Centre national hospitalier universitaire, HK Maga de Cotonou, Bénin. yedomonhubert@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yedomon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adegbidi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atadokpede
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akpadjan
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mouto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: do Ango-Padonou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult