Close-up of a keloid which has developed here on the site where surgery was performed in the past. Keloids are raised, hard, irregularly-shaped itchy scars on the skin. They consist of a mass of collagen, a tough fibrous protein, forming as a result of a defective healing process. They may occur anywhere on the body but are more common over the sternum (breastbone) and shoulders. After a period of time most keloids flatten and cease to itch. They occur more commonly in African people than in white people.