Abstract: Keloid is usually defined as a localized fibrotic disease limited to human skin in the medical field and the past research literatures also focused on keloid cells. However, keloid only forms in human being and lacks proper animal models. In addition, keloid is difficult to heal with high rate of recurrence. These characteristics suggest that the current strategy of keloid research is needed to change. Based on clinical manifestation and literature reports, this expert eonunent proposes that an integrative strategy- should be adapted to investigate the mechanism of keloid origination and development, and keloid might be a systemic disease with its manifestation at human skin. Meanwhile, future keloid research should also been evolved from abnormality of local skin tissue to the contribution of systemic factors and the interaction between systemic factors and local skin cells.

Key words: Keloid, Integrative viewpoint, Pathogenesis, Systemic factors