Epidemiology of keloids in normally pigmented Africans and African people with albinism: population-based cross-sectional survey

Funding sources: This research was made possible through a financial grant from DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) within the University Cooperation between Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany and Tumaini University Moshi, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College/Regional Dermatology Training Centre). Conflicts of interest: none declared. Dear Editor, Keloids are a common overgrowth of dense fibrous tissue that develops after healing of a cutaneous injury. Keloidal scars extend beyond the borders of the original wound, recur after excision and rarely regress spontaneously.1 Worldwide, the prevalence of keloids varies from 0·09% in the U.K. to 16% in the Democratic Republic of Congo.2 Genetic susceptibility is thought to play an integral role in the development of keloids.3 There are no recent population‐based epidemiological data on the prevalence of keloids in Africa. Anecdotal reports in the literature indicate that keloids are rare among people with albinism, although no detailed studies have been carried out.4 Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide new epidemiological data on keloids and to determine the association of the development of keloids with skin pigment.