Description of clinical and histopathological characteristics of keloids in a sub-Saharan African population.

Background: Keloids are among the leading benign skin conditions globally, affecting up to 16% of the African population. They are characterized by aggressive behaviour, high recurrence rates and poor treatment outcomes, particularly in African populations. Despite this, most information on keloids in sub-Saharan Africa remains anecdotal, with limited comprehensive studies describing their clinical and pathological characteristics. Objectives: To analyse the clinical and histopathological features of keloids in a sub-Saharan African population. Methods: Following ethical approval, 231 participants were enrolled in a cross-sectional study conducted at the 2 national referral plastic surgical centres in Uganda. Data on demographics, clinical presentations and histopathological features of keloids were collected and analysed. Results: Sixty-four per cent of participants ( Conclusions: Keloids in African populations exhibit a slight female predominance, a tendency toward multiplicity and larger lesion volumes. Histopathological findings highlight excessive collagen deposition as a hallmark, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to improve treatment outcomes.