Field Notes · February 21, 2026 · 5 min · By Leopold Ferreira
Who gets keloids, and why
Genetics, skin tone, and wound location all stack the odds.
Keloids are not random. Several well-established factors predict who will form them, and knowing your risk changes how you should approach any wound or elective procedure.
Genetics and family history matter strongly, keloids cluster in families. Skin tone is a major factor; keloids are substantially more common in people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. Age plays a role, with keloids forming most readily in the teens through thirties. Location matters too: the chest, shoulders, upper back, and earlobes are high-risk zones, while some areas rarely keloid at all.
The practical use of this knowledge is prevention. If you have keloided before, have a family history, or have higher-risk skin, treat every wound and every elective cut as a keloid risk to be managed from the start, with early silicone, careful technique, and prompt attention to any thickening. Risk awareness turns keloids from a surprise into something you plan around.
Related reading: Keloids and skin of color: tailored, careful treatment.