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Cortisone Injections
Intralesional Cortecoidsteroid Injections also known as the following: Cortisone Injections, Steroid Shots, or Cyst Injections, are injections that help to shrink large, inflammatory acne cysts. This treatment quickly reduces inflammation, flattens and heals the breakout in just a few days.
The Gist:Intralesional corticosteroid injections are used to treat deep nodules, scars, or cysts. A very dilute corticosteroid is injected directly into the blemish. Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory that shrinks the swollen wall of the cyst. Don’t worry,we use a small needle and the whole procedure is quick and may not be completely painless (we are sticking you with a needle after all), but it's extremely tolerable. Most of our clients describe it as a little pinch. Although if your zit is very painful, it can hurt a bit more when the needle is inserted. If you are nervous about the pain, in some cases, you can ask us to numb the area before getting started. Either way, the entire process is over in just a few seconds.
The cortisone reduces inflammation (and usually pain) quite quickly. Over the next 24 hours, you'll notice your blemish softening, shrinking, and flattening out. While they may not completely disappear, they will be noticeably smaller and definitely less red and painful. Most blemishes heal within a week after treatment. |
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Corticosteroid injections are also used to help shrink hypertrophic and keloid scars that you may already have. Acne Treatment
Cortisone shots don't work on your run-of-the-mill pimples or pustules. Cortisone doesn't do anything for the pus that makes up the core of a pimple. Instead, it shrinks inflamed tissue. So cortisone shots are reserved for large, cystic blemishes. Cortisone shots can be use to treat blemishes on both the face and the body.
And healing those big zits quickly isn't strictly for looks—it also lessens the chance that the blemishes will cause scars. This is especially valuable if you are prone to scarring or hyperpigmentation.
Some reasons you may want to ask your dermatologist about a cortisone injection:
- You've had a massive, inflamed zit for months and it's not healing.
- Your blemish is a more recent issue but it's large, swollen, and incredibly painful.
- You've got an important event coming up (like, say, prom, graduation, or your wedding day) and you've just developed a big breakout.
Side Effects
Intralesional cortisone injections may sound like a magic wand when it comes to healing big blemishes quickly. But this procedure still must be used with care, because it can cause side effects.
The most common is pitting of the skin. This can happen if too much cortisone or too strong a dilution is used. The skin around the injection site can atrophy, leaving a depressed area or divot.
Fortunately, these depressions usually go away. This can take a long time, though (up to 6 months). Sometimes, this loss of tissue is permanent.
Incidentally, if you develop permanent pitting of the skin, it isn’t necessarily caused by the injections. Severe breakouts often cause depressed or pitted acne scars. Dermal fillers may be a good solution in these cases.
Cortisone shots can sometimes leave a lighter area or white spot on the skin (called hypopigmentation) especially for people with medium to dark complexions. Again, this tends to be temporary and fades away aver time.
The most common is pitting of the skin. This can happen if too much cortisone or too strong a dilution is used. The skin around the injection site can atrophy, leaving a depressed area or divot.
Fortunately, these depressions usually go away. This can take a long time, though (up to 6 months). Sometimes, this loss of tissue is permanent.
Incidentally, if you develop permanent pitting of the skin, it isn’t necessarily caused by the injections. Severe breakouts often cause depressed or pitted acne scars. Dermal fillers may be a good solution in these cases.
Cortisone shots can sometimes leave a lighter area or white spot on the skin (called hypopigmentation) especially for people with medium to dark complexions. Again, this tends to be temporary and fades away aver time.
Short Term Use
Cortisone injections have plenty of benefits, but there is one thing they just can't do—clear up your acne. True, they help big breakouts heal up quickly, but they can't stop more breakouts from forming.
For that, we can discuss the need to use a daily acne treatment medication. We may prescribe a treatment that is best for your skin. Some options: topical retinoids or combination acne medications (depending on how severe your acne is).
Unless you only get a random big zit very occasionally, you should use a prescription acne medication. For those big blemishes, over-the-counter (OTC) acne products just don't have enough strength.
Using an acne medication daily stops breakouts from forming so, ideally, you won't need cortisone injections as often.
Ananya Aesthetics LLC, DBA Ananya Aesthetics is the MSO for ZKN Medical Corporation. Medical director Luani Lee, M.D.