Scars · Caution
Keloid scars and camouflage tattooing: proceed with caution
If you have keloids or a family history of them, this is one of the most important things to discuss before any tattooing.
A keloid is a scar that keeps growing beyond the edges of the original wound. It can be firm, raised, shiny and sometimes itchy. Some people are much more prone to keloids than others.
Why tattooing needs caution
Tattooing, including camouflage, places pigment with small, controlled injuries to the skin. In people prone to keloids, any skin injury can carry a risk of a new keloid. That is why keloids and keloid-prone skin are treated with real caution in the camouflage field.
“We don’t fix texture, we fix color.”
Evelyn Alvares Vega, founder of SKINEAV
What I do
- I ask every client about keloid history, including in the family
- I do not tattoo active keloids
- If you are keloid-prone, I may recommend not proceeding, or speaking with a dermatologist first
Real results and real moments
Keloid or hypertrophic?
Hypertrophic scars are raised but stay within the original wound and often improve over time. Keloids extend beyond it. Only a doctor can diagnose your scar for certain. Read raised vs flat scars.
How it works at SKINEAV
- Photo or callSend a photo or book a free phone consult. Honest first answer.
- Assessment & colour testIn clinic, Evelyn checks your skin and tests a custom formula.
- TreatmentPigment placed precisely, only where it is needed, one-on-one.
- Heal & reviewThe colour settles over weeks; follow-ups are planned if needed.
If camouflage is not right
That is a legitimate answer. Dermatologists have medical options for keloids. I would always rather say no than risk making your skin worse.
Frequently asked questions
Can you tattoo over a keloid?
Active keloids are not tattooed. Keloid-prone clients may be advised not to proceed or to see a dermatologist first.
Why does keloid history matter for camouflage?
Tattooing involves small skin injuries, which can trigger keloids in people who are prone to them.