Skin atrophy symptoms and conditions

I am a physician. Kenalog is one of several injectable steroids that can cause subcutaneous atrophy or lipoatrophy as a side effect. For those who have this reaction, they will notice a dent or divot. This is not dangerous problem and most of the time the dent or divot will fill back in with time. How much time? The range is 3 to 24 months without treatment. However, for many patients this healing process can be speeded up with weekly saline injections that can be safely performed by almost any Doctor and need not be expensive.

The technique was well described in the Journal of Dermatological Surgery in 2006. If you do a google search for the name of the article as listed below you can find the Abstract and take a copy to your Doctor.

Best to all,

T.

Treatment of Local, Persistent Cutaneous Atrophy Following Corticosteroid Injection with Normal Saline Infiltration

Shumaker Peter R., MD*, Rao Jaggi, MD † , Goldman Mitchel P., MD †

Published in Dermatological Surgery, 21 Mar 2006

ABSTRACT
Background. Injections of corticosteroids are commonly used for a variety a dermatologic conditions but may cause local, persistent cutaneous atrophy, with few therapeutic options.

Objective. To determine the effectiveness of bacteriostatic normal saline infiltration on the improvement of corticosteroid-induced cutaneous atrophy.

Materials and Methods. Four patients with corticosteroid-induced atrophy of the skin, two caused by acneiform cysts and one from intramuscular steroid injection, were treated with weekly injections of normal saline directly into the atrophic site. The patients were seen on weekly follow-up visits, and improvement was documented.

Results. All four patients demonstrated complete resolution of skin atrophy and restoration of surface contour within 4 to 8 weeks of initial presentation. Injected volumes of normal saline ranged from 5 to 20 cm3 per treatment session and three to six weekly treatments. The patients were completely satisfied with these results.

Conclusion. Normal saline infiltration offers a safe, tolerable, relatively rapid, and effective treatment for local, persistent corticosteroid-induced atrophy.

Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 31 Issue 10, Pages 1340 - 1343,

I don't know if this would be a side effort but from what I heard is that a Kenalog injection can get rid of a pimple. I had a pimple on my nose for 6 weeks straight which was red and flared up every few days. I got the injection and within 2 days the pimple was gone! But 2 weeks later, that same (funny as it sounds) pimple rose right back up. I've booked an to get another injection but I don't know if this is the solution. I don't want to keep going back for the injection.

I found this article on treating the dimpling/cutaneous atrophy effects of Kenalog with saline injections. Very good cosmetic effect.

1: Dermatol Surg. 2005 Oct;31(10):1340-3.
Treatment of local, persistent cutaneous atrophy following corticosteroid injection with normal saline infiltration.
Shumaker PR, Rao J, Goldman MP.

Dermatology Department, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA.

BACKGROUND: Injections of corticosteroids are commonly used for a variety a dermatologic conditions but may cause local, persistent cutaneous atrophy, with few therapeutic options. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of bacteriostatic normal saline infiltration on the improvement of corticosteroid-induced cutaneous atrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with corticosteroid-induced atrophy of the skin, two caused by acneiform cysts and one from intramuscular steroid injection, were treated with weekly injections of normal saline directly into the atrophic site. The patients were seen on weekly follow-up visits, and improvement was documented. RESULTS: All four patients demonstrated complete resolution of skin atrophy and restoration of surface contour within 4 to 8 weeks of initial presentation. Injected volumes of normal saline ranged from 5 to 20 cm(3) per treatment session and three to six weekly treatments. The patients were completely satisfied with these results. CONCLUSION: Normal saline infiltration offers a safe, tolerable, relatively rapid, and effective treatment for local, persistent corticosteroid-induced atrophy.

Like so many of you, I Googled "tissue atrophy" and have had the very same experience that you have had with Kenalog. I received a shot in late February of 08, shortly after I noticed severe bruising, which eventually turned into the atrophy I now have. I have taken pictures of it for the past several months...and now, 6 months later it is much worse...deeper and darker in color. Is anyone else having discoloration? Mine is a dark purple-red.
I AM PURSUING a lawsuit against the nurse that injected me because I was absolutely not warned of the side-effects...and now have had to suffer with this hole in my side.

It bothers me...and no one would understand unless this had happened to them I suppose. In addition, I received a second opinion and was told the atrophy was permanent...can anyone else confirm this?

I've also noticed other severe menstrual and emotional side-effects...this stuff can stay in your system for a long time.

Skin atrophy under both eyes due to 2mg of Kenalog injections. Discoloration: darkening, reddening, indentions.
Will skin tissue regenerate? What about depigmentation?
Anything you can tell me will help.
Please reply and also I would like to have other common side effects of Kenalog. Thank you.
donnal

A doctor placed a diluted Kenalog injection under both my eyes for hard tissue forming from trying to transfer fat. Now
I have skin atrophy under both eyes. The left is twice as bad as the right because he placed a second injection six weeks after the first only under the left eye. I have had fillers injected since Jan., 2004, which has helped but the skin looks like dried out onion skin. The cosmetic surgeon who is helping me the fillers says that I have a good chance of the skin tissue regenerating itself and maybe all of it. I know that it takes a long time; he says about 2 years. It has been
one year now since those horrible injections. Please let me know what you think about the tissue regenerating and also Kenalog caused my skin to redden ( I have very fair skin) and darken in placed where it migrated. Will this color eventually change back to normal along with the skin tissue?
I certainly hope that you have good news! How long?

I have skin atrophy under both eyes from Kenalog injectons
after having fat transfer that hardened. The Doctor made no
attempt to give me any side effects before fat transfer or Kenalog injections. I am now having a filler injected under both eyes which is not working out very well. My skin looks terrible, bumpy and lumpy. Will my skin tissue regrow and be like it was before Kenalog. Why would a Doctor take such a chance on skin atropny and especially not tell the patient the risks before? Please tell me if the skin tissue should come back and how long it will take. It has been one years since the terrible injections. Thank you