If you’ve ever had a keloid or been diagnosed with fibroids, it might be important for you to know there may be a connection between the two. We know from research that more than 80% of Black women will be diagnosed with fibroids by age 50, but new research is helping us understand how fibroids and keloids might be connected, especially for Black women.

So let’s break this down in simple terms.

What Are Fibroids and Keloids?

Fibroids are growths made of muscle and fibrous (scar-like) tissue that grow in or around the uterus.
Keloids are raised scars that grow bigger and thicker than a normal scar after the skin is injured. They are most often found on the chest, shoulders, chin, neck, lower legs and ears, but they can develop anywhere on the body.

Although fibroids show up inside the body and keloids show up on the outside, both are types of extra scar tissue that form when the body tries to heal itself.

Why Does This Matter for Black Women?

Research shows that Black women are more likely to get both fibroids and keloids than women of other backgrounds. Scientists are studying why, and a recent study found something really interesting: these two conditions might be linked by how our bodies handle inflammation, healing, and certain genes passed down in families.

Key Things to Know from the Research

Shared Causes
Fibroids and keloids both involve an overgrowth of tissue caused by the body trying to heal. This process is often driven by too much inflammation and too much collagen (a protein that helps heal wounds).
Family History Matters
If your mom or sister has had fibroids, you might be more likely to get them too. Similarly, if someone in your family has keloids, you may be more likely to get them. “My entire life, my mom had a keloid on her chest,” UCC Founder Kayla Nixon shares. “In high school, I developed a pimple in the middle of my chest that later formed a keloid in the exact same location and shape as my mom’s. When the pimple first formed, my mom let me know that her keloid had started the same way.” Keloids and fibroids can both run in families, so it’s good to know your family’s history.
Hormones Play a Role
Estrogen, a hormone that changes during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, affects fibroids—and it might also impact how scar tissue forms on your skin.
More Than Skin Deep
Limited research shows that keloids on the outside may be a sign that your body is more likely to grow scar tissue on the inside, like fibroids in the uterus. If you’ve had keloids, it might be worth asking your doctor about fibroids—especially if you have symptoms like heavy periods, pain, or bloating.
Early Awareness Helps
Knowing your risk can help you catch things early. Talk to family members about their health history, be mindful if you make similar observations about your health, and share that information with your doctor. Though the research about a connection between keloids and fibroids is limited, we know that it’s better safe than sorry for Black women to be aware of information that helps them advocate for their health.

A Personal Note

“I’ve had a keloid for years—one that I used to feel a little self-conscious about,” Kayla shares. “I saw it as something that made me look different in a way I didn’t always like. But learning about this research shifted something for me. That small scar might be telling a much bigger story about how my body heals, protects, and signals what’s going on inside.” If you have a keloid or fibroids—or both—know that your body is not working against you. It’s speaking. Dr. Salome Maswime, a leading expert in global women’s health, once shared:

“We can’t treat what we don’t understand—and that means listening to women, especially Black women, who know their bodies better than anyone else.”