All About Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT) for Scars

If you’ve ever had a raised scar that developed slowly after a wound or surgery, then you know what it’s like to have a keloid scar. Unlike hypertrophic scars, which are also raised, keloids grow larger than the area of the original wound or surgical incision. 

Keloid scars are fairly common, but you might find your keloid to be unattractive or even inconvenient depending on its location. Occasionally, keloid scars are tender and painful long after the initial injury has healed. 

Small keloids can appear round and bulbous while others look like liquid spilled across your skin that solidified. The Orlando Dermatology Center team can identify a keloid by examining it in the office. 

Our best option for keloid scar removal at Orlando Dermatology Center in Oviedo and Orlando, Florida, is superficial radiation therapy (SRT), which uses gentle radiation to break down the extra collagen that forms a keloid scar. Using the SRT-100™ machine, board-certified dermatologist Vitaly Blatnoy, MD, and our team can treat your keloid and prevent it from coming back. 

How SRT works

SRT is a form of radiation therapy that doesn’t just treat scars — it also treats some nonmelanoma skin cancers. In both scar removal and cancer treatment, SRT treats overgrown tissue. 

When treating keloid scars or preventing scar formation after surgery, SRT delivers low-dose radiation directly to scar tissue for 15-30 minutes. Your dermatologist covers nearby healthy skin with a protective lead barrier to prevent radiation damage. 

SRT reduces overall collagen production, making it an excellent treatment for preventing the regrowth of a keloid scar. It also prevents new collagen formation so the scar doesn’t grow back after treatment. 

The benefits of SRT for keloid scars

Superficial radiation therapy offers several standout benefits as a keloid scar treatment. You may be interested in SRT for a large or small keloid scar because the treatment offers the following:

• Is noninvasive and nonsurgical
• Takes little time
• Improves blood circulation in the targeted area
• Improves cellular response in the targeted area
• Evens out your complexion in treated areas 
• Reduces discomfort from keloids
• Can shrink your keloid
• Prevents new or worsening scar growth in the area
• Has minimal side effects

SRT works well for keloid scars on the earlobes, which commonly form after piercings. 

Is SRT the right choice for you? 

The team at Orlando Dermatology Center evaluates your keloid scar to confirm if treatment using the SRT-100 is the best choice for you. They consider the size and location of your keloid among other factors while making treatment recommendations. 

Your dermatologist may recommend superficial radiation therapy if your keloid scar hasn’t responded well to other scar treatments like Cryodestruction™ or pressure dressings. 

To learn more about superficial radiation therapy for scars, call your nearest Orlando Dermatology Center or book an appointment online today.