Marked Clinical Improvement of Extensive Keloids Following Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy After Failure of Standard Therapies

Background: Keloids are abnormal scars in which fibrous tissue continues to proliferate beyond the original wound boundaries, occurring predominantly in individuals with inherited susceptibility and showing no tendency toward natural resolution. Phototherapy modalities, including narrowband ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB), have been used in dermatology practice to treat various dermatoses, including keloids.Case: We report a 13-year-old girl presenting with extensive keloid lesions on the left thigh following a burn injury. The patient had previously undergone multiple triamcinolone acetonide and 5-fluorouracil injections without improvement. Subsequently, she received NB-UVB phototherapy twice weekly, starting at 300 mJ/cm² and gradually increasing by 20–30%. After 25 sessions over two months, the lesion appeared flatter, softer, and more hyperpigmented.Conclusion: NB-UVB phototherapy was effective in this recalcitrant keloid case, suggesting that it can serve as an alternative modality for keloids unresponsive to first-line therapy.