Kenalog and dents

I just came across this site while searching online for photos that resembled what is happening to my body. I have matching large indentations above both butt cheeks, and after reading this I realize that they are in the same location where my dermatologist gave me "steroid" shots for poison ivy in Sept. of 2008. I have no idea if it was kenalog, but after reading this I'm afraid that's exactly what it was and will be calling his office on Monday to confirm. I too would like to know just how big these will get and if there is any way to correct them. It's all I can do to sit at my desk for 8 hours. I am in great discomfort, and very upset about the appearance of these large indentations.

I have been getting Kenalog injections on and off since I was a teenager. I am now 38 years old. I get these injections about once a year and depending on how bad my allergies get, sometimes twice a year. It is the ONLY MEDICATION that I have ever been able to take that has completely relieved my allergy symptoms. I to have got the "dents" into my skin at the injection sites, which over time have resolved on their own. My hips ache as well but fortunately only just sometimes. Exercise relieves the pain. I am a nurse and know full well the "adverse" side effects from this medication and am reminded by my physician every time I go for the injection. The misery of dealing with my seasonal allergies when nothing either prescription or over the counter helps makes me incredibly grateful for this medication. Everyone will react differently to every medication. People need to realize that it will not work for everyone and there are serious side effects. That is when YOU need to decide if the risks are worth the potential benefits. For me they are, every year I dread spring and summer and will dread it even more if the FDA pulls this drug.

I used Kenalog once every year for hayfever symptoms for about five years, two years ago I developed these "dents" at the top of the cheeks on my bum, they turned a dark purple/black, eventually filled out and have gone back to being a normal color, but the pain in my hips and knees is starting to become unbearable. I'm waking at night time with the pain and having to take pain killers during the night to ease the pain. While it was a miracle treatment at the time of relieving my hay fever symptoms this pain is definitely not worth it. I'm 32 years of age and sometimes feel like an old woman rubbing her hips and knees.

I have got three shots and now have two big dents in my back one on the side of my hip and one on the right side of my lower back. I have been getting very bad back pain and when I push on them I start bleeding a dark blood please help me I have had one sine 2007 and just recently has the one on my hip showed up the hurt and my doctors don't know what to do. please email me if you have any answers ******

Thank you,
A Girl with a lot of issues

Hi, I'm so glad I found this side, at least it explained the things happening to my body. I had surgery to remove loose skin in my upper arm, great! but then I had keloids hence my surgeon recommended Kenalog to flatten the scar. I have my first shot in July, then monthly until October. I suffered extensive skin thing beyond the scar and the dents which was outside the scar boundary. I had gained weight and my regular cycle got disrupted. I've had cycle within the space of two weeks, then It lasted for 24 days, sometimes twice a month. Reading the post here it finally made sense. The thing to note about Kenalog is the effect is only noticeable after after months of shots. I've stopped the shots since October and just wondering just how long will the effect continue? does the Kenalog not get expended by the body?

I used to receive a Kenalog injection once a year to treat my skin. It worked great. Best drug, nothing compares to it. After a few years it worked so great that I didn't have to receive the shot anymore.

This drug is far too helpful in the medical field for it to be removed because of its side effects. Never had a problem with getting a hole "in my butt" either... Not that I let A LOT of people look at my butt anyway. There's a reason why you're told what the side effects could be, if you don't like them then tell the doctor you don't want to take the medicine.

If you're a model, then have it photoshopped out... We know now that's what they do anyway. You give young girls bad impressions thinking they have to be perfect, when you're not.

Wow, I am surprised to hear all the comments on Kenalog. Is it just me, or does it seem like it really effects females negatively? I am a 43 yr old male that has the worse year round allergies known to man. I have had sinus surgery, and been on every known allergy drug that is available. Went to an allergist and started the drop therapy under the tongue, which seemed to make my allergies worse, so after 9 months I quit the drops. I had tried everything, including air cleaners in every room of the house, no pets, and no carpet.
I went to an urgent care one day because I was 100% blocked and would have been happy if my nose was severed from my face at that point. My doctor asked if I wanted to try the Kenalog shot, and I replied give it to me , give it to me!
This was several years ago and I now receive the shot 3 times a year and have never been happier. The only thing that has ever helped my allergies! I don't have any dents in my rear, so maybe it effects females differently than males.

My hair is falling out too!! Since January I have had 2 kenalog shots for allergies and 2 shots for poison ivy. My side effects are hair loss, depression, headaches, bruise easily, swollen joints, weight gain, and a dent on my rear. These effects did not start until I had 2 shots, now it is so severe. I was so scared when my hair started falling out but knew that I didn't have Lupus or Diabetes which could cause the same side effects...I have been tested for both and do not have either.

Please let us know if there are anymore out there who have hair loss because of the Kenalog Shot.

A plastic surgeon injected Kenalog in two places underneath my chin to dissolve small spots of scar tissue. The result is a disaster. I have a dent on one side and a large burned looking, atrophied area on the other. He did not advise me that there was any possibility of this drug eating my healthy tissue -- said it would probably not do anything. I did this on the spur of the moment and am angry with myself for not researching the drug first.

Has anyone who has had these "dents" had their atrophied area fill back in?

When I was visiting him for something unrelated, my doctor pointed out the bags under my eyes and said he could eliminate them with a Kenalog injection. He did not mention any possible side effects. Worst case, he said, would be that the injection would have no effect.

That's the last time I consent to a treatment on trust without first researching it thoroughly myself. The injection did nothing for the bags, but did cause atrophy of my right cheek at the injection site, resulting in a severe indentation in the middle of my cheek which continued to get worse as the weeks went by.

Attempts to fill out the sink-hole have resulted in a lopsided appearance to my face, which is quite demoralizing.

Until now I had no idea what the dents were on the lower back just above my right or left buttock. I have gotten Kenalog shots on both sides for allergies for the past 10 years! It first appeared on the left side then went away. Now I've got one on the right. It really doesn't bother me since it's covered all the time, even in a swim suit. However, this side effect cannot be good and I will deffinetely not be getting Kenalog shots anymore... but to anyone who is worried about it not going away: it did for me.

I've had a "dent" for about four years now, and had no idea what it was until now. I'm relieved to find out that it isn't anything like cancer.....but will it ever go away? Are there any known treatments or cures?
I'm very upset that my doctor gave me no warning of side effects of the Kenalog shot. I was only told that it would aid in my relief from allergies. I have now received the shot for five years in a row, and have two "dents" on either side of my lower back. Any advice on legal action?????

I, too, have atrophy from the Kenalog, which is unsightly and causes me great emotional pain. Can anyone recommend a good attorney for this?

Thank you.

I to have a huge dent in my right butt cheek. I would be interested in a class action suit. This is ridiculous! It has been about three months since I received the shot. Has anyone noticed their dents getting better with time?

I too experienced an indentation from a kenalog shot. My experience is a little different though, because I received the shots on my face for acne. I received four shots and two out of the four depressed / indented. I was EXTREMELY depressed and felt hopeless after reading it would take 6 months to a year (or more) to have my skin gash-free. I stayed up for two days straight searching for some sort of help on the internet and found a medical article about something called saline infiltration. It is a relatively new procedure and was created by "one of the best dermatologists in the country". I was so desperate, that the next morning I drove to see him in La Jolla, Ca (I live in LA). I received shots in the problem areas. It is now two days later and my indents are about 80% better!! He told me to give it another couple of days to see complete restoration, and if not, said that one more treatment should make everything 100% normal again. Needless to say, I am thrilled!! I do not know if this will work for any of your situations (being that the dr. is a dermatologist and the shot was initially given for acne), but I thought I would share my great news and hopefully help at least one person out there dealing with this mess.

I had a Kenalog injection between my eyes for a zit/cyst. I've had mild cyctic acne for years and easily treat it with cortisone injections every few months. I asked for a cortisone injection which I've gotten regularly with no problems, but was given the Kenalog and told it was the same thing - is it?!?! I now have an 'dent' between my eyes. I've called my normal derm to see if she can add filler or something, will it ever go away? It's been approx 4weeks and the dent keeps getting bigger.

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.

I received 10 Kenalog injections on 9/15 in my scalp to help with hair loss. I am 34; the doctor biopsied and said I had scarring alopecia. I asked about cortisone shots and she elected to give me a series to see if it would help. The shots were painful, of course. But I'd read that steroid therapy can help regrow hair, so I remained hopeful. On my return visit a couple of months later, I pointed out the dent to her, and she said it would fill in in a few months. She gave me a 2nd shot of Kenalog in my left buttock.

I got home that night and looked up the drug and its side effects. I found this board. I cried all night.

It's 3 months later and I have one huge, tender indentation in my scalp--it is BALD; how ironic as there was hair there pre-Kenalog. I also have several less deep dents in my scalp. I've also had the yeast infection, but so far I have yet to develop an indentation or discoloration in my buttock. I am wondering if I should see a lawyer because I was not informed of the risks of this drug. And apparently rather than improving the situation it was prescribed for, it made it worse.

Sigh.

Hey all, I have posted several times on here. I am devastated about my tissue loss in my forehead. I am trying to pursue a lawsuit against a plastic surgeon in Michigan. My doctor tried to cover it up by immediately injecting me with a filler at MY COST and telling me it would last 5 years. Well guess what, 11 months later it disappeared and I got my medical records and found it it was cause she injected me with KENALOG 40! I only have one more year to file a complaint and so far this is hard. We really need to figure out a way to start a class-action lawsuit against bristol-Meyers-Squibb. Keep calling them, every little complaint helps!

These doctors could care less about us! I have had to be put on anti-depressants because my situation is right in the middle of my forehead. I am disfigured from a small procedure.

One surgeon I went to mentioned how hard it was to utilize Kenalog 40. It has to be diluted PRECISELY or else it will most definitely 'cause atrophy. This has to stop!!!!

This may offer some hope to those who have received Kenalog injections that resulted in dents in the tissue. About 15 years ago, when I was a graduate student, I developed a mild case of cystic acne. By "mild," I mean that I would develop deep, painful cysts after eating or drinking certain foods, like red wine or chocolate (so my acne was somewhat controlable, depending on my diet). I received a few steroid injections (which I believe where Kenalog shots) that worked almost immediately. However, when I switched to a very expensive doctor in Princeton, NJ and asked him to zap a huge cyst, he gave me too much kenalog and I was left with a nice indentation right smack in the middle of my forehead! It was very upsetting, to say the least. When I called him, he assured me that the dent would fill in on its own. And guess what? It did - but it took a while. After a year, it was not as noticeable and as more time passed it was not noticeable *at all*. However, I will say that 15 years later, I can still put my finger on where the dent used to be and I can feel a slight indentation. Also, the skin over the indentation recently seems to be a bit more wrinkled than the rest of my forehead which is quite smooth (I'm 46 so it may just be normal ageing). Anyway, after my lovely kenalog experience, I stayed away from these injections. And after I swore off all chocolate, tea, and red wine, my cystic acne disappeared on its own.

I started suffering from hay fever the summer between my jr. and senior high school year; I am now 48. When I was about 20 my cousin referred me to his doctor for a Kenalog shot for the hayfever. For several years I took at least one, sometimes two shots in the fall. I never had any problems that I couldn't live with...the only thing I noticed was irregular monthly cycle (especially the years I had 2 shots) for several months following and loss of smell. However, for anyone who suffers from hayfever, irregular periods and not being able to smell are gladly sacrificed for the relief Kenalog provided. I never experienced the dents or other problems I've read about.

As I got older I've "outgrown" hayfever. I'm really glad as my original doctor died and it became difficult to find a doctor who would administer the injection. I'd hate to still be suffering from the sneezing, watery eyes, etc. I do notice my skin is much more sensitive to plants and grasses now.

Two of my children developed hay fever about the same time as I. I'm ready to tell me son to ask the PCP about Kenalog but after reading other people's experiences, am reluctant. As my daughter is pregnant, I won't say anything to her.

OK, I'll stop.

I share the story of many others on this site...

Severe fall allergies, despite years of ineffective perscription allery pills and steroid nasal sprays. Nothing seemed to work. A doctor at my University health clinic suggested the shot (actually Triamcinelone). I've been getting the shot (now Kenalog) every September for 10 years, and absolutely love it. In fact, my wife and kids can't wait for me to get it, because allergies turn me into a grumpy, tired monster! Over the counter pills make me extremely sluggish and irratable.

10 years, no dents or headaches! Just pure relief... if you can't find a doctor who will give it to you, keep searching. I've also been able to convince a doctor or two by suggesting that I will only need 1 low dose shot. Many are hesitant (in my opinion) because they're afraid you'll keep coming back to ask for more. Just 1 a year does it for me. Hope this helps.

I have been getting a Kenelog shot for 19 months by a nurse practioner. I had ear aches for 7 years and Doctors could not clear them. I moved, and by accident, met a nurse practioner. Without any testing, she said my problem was allergies, and the Kenelog shot would stop the ear pain with little side affects. She also warned me that I would get a small dimple on my rear, but not to worry. This would go away in a year. Well, it has been longer than a year, and the dents in both sides of my rear are so deep you could put a large mans hand in them. I can no longer wear tight dress pants, because the dents are too noticable. I am extememly uncomforatbe anytime someone puts there arm around me near the dents, because they feel so ugly. I have also lost 30 pounds since I had this shot. I don't know how i am going to live with the ear aches, but think i should stop the shots ??? I would also get large bruises all over my legs that would itch terribly. Please help me with some advice, and the long-term effects of this shot.

Thank you sincerely,
Sharon

My son was 17 months old and the doctor gave him Kenalog for a 24 hr stomach flu...I dont know why but she never explained side effects. Now 4 months later he has a huge dent in his right front thigh. I am sick to my stomach about this and I hope there is hope for him. Can anyone PLEASE email me if their dents went away or if anyone has sought out Legal Action. I am terribly worried. ******

For years, I suffered from terrible allergies. Constant sinus drainage, watery eyes, itchy eyes, headaches, (I should have been able to lose wt. because of the amount of fluid running out of my body!!!) I dreaded Spring because I was miserable for months!! My doctor recommended I try Kenalog. After about 24 hrs., I could breath, my nose stopped running, my eyes didn't itch and water. I've had absolutely no problems, at all, with the shot. I get 1 shot a year and manage the fall with antihistamines... No side effects, no dents, nothing. It's the only thing I've found that works. After my original doctor retired, I went with a younger, "smarter" doctor who refused to administer the shot, inspite of my history of success with the medication. They wanted me to take inhaled steroids, instead. I've finally found a family practice that will give me the once a year injection. It works, I don't abuse it, it's given in small amounts and I love the fact I feel great after the allergies clear up!