Final answer:
A keloid is a raised or hypertrophic scar that forms due to an overproduction of excess type 3 collagen. It is more common in individuals of African American descent and often occurs in areas such as earlobes, face, and upper extremities.
Step-by-step explanation:
A keloid is a raised or hypertrophic scar that forms due to an overproduction of excess type 3 collagen. It is more common in individuals of African American descent and often occurs in areas such as earlobes, face, and upper extremities. Collagen is a protein that is responsible for the strength and structure of the skin. Scarring occurs when there is repair of skin damage, but the skin fails to regenerate the original skin structure. Fibroblasts generate scar tissue in the form of collagen, and in the case of keloids, the process of collagen formation does not stop when the wound is healed.