Kenalog and biotic

hi, when i was 19 i got cystic acne (pyoderma faciale) on my face (both cheeks). I went to a dermatologist who gave me shots of cortisone (kenalog) about every 2 weeks for a period of about four months.

after four months of getting shots i noticed these linear dents beginning to emerge in my right cheek where i had several shots. i mentioned this to the dermatologist at the time and he said it was from the acne, not the shots. however, in the months that followed the dents only got deeper.

3 years later the dents had filled in quite a bit but they were still noticeable, especially to me. i wanted to get them fixed so i went to a plastic surgeon who told me that the dents in my face were the result of subcutaneous atrophy most likely the result of cortisone shots.

four months after my consultation with the plastic surgeon i get a cyst on my face (left cheek). i go back to the same dermatologist that treated me for the cystic acne 3.5 years ago (don't ask me why) and he gives me a shot. The next week i called him up complaining about a dent in my face where he gave me the shot. He was *extremely* concerned about this and told me to come in right away and "we'll put something on it."

when i get there he looks at me and says he can't see a dent in my face. i couldn't argue with him. he gives me another shot in an adjacent cyst and sends me home.

one week later the cyst starts swelling up and i call the dermatologist. he says he can't give me anymore shots because it's too soon since the last one.

now this cyst keeps swelling up and in a week gets to the size of a toonie and is jutting out 1/2 an inch from my face. i go to the doctor (gp) who tells me that it's a boil now (accute folliculitis) and he gives me fucidin cream and a strong anti-biotic (in the penicilin family). i have to miss a week of work.

it's been 3 months and the boil still isn't gone. i'm finally off the antibiotics though, after almost 2 months. what i'm stuck with now is a hard, purplish lump about the size of a nickle. that'll shrink up over time i'm told.

an interesting fact: my gp told me that cortisone, which is touted as a miracle drug for reducing inflamation, is also a drug that supresses the immune system. in other words it can make acne worse. that would definitely explain why i had to have 2 or 3 shots in the same cyst when i had the cystic acne. and the more shots you get, the greater the chance of atrophy.

anyway, that's my story.