Hello, I am Dr. Lee Hae-hal, a dermatologist. What kind of treatment do you receive when you have acne? One of the commonly used treatments, along with medication prescriptions, is acne inflammation injections. Some people say inflammation injections are very effective, while others worry about skin indentation. Today, we will address various questions related to inflammation injections.
What are acne inflammation injections?
Acne inflammation injections are a treatment method that effectively calms inflammation by injecting a steroid component with excellent anti-inflammatory effects into inflammatory acne.
When is it most effective to get them?
The most important timing for an inflammation injection is when the skin becomes red and painful. Since the steroid component is injected directly, you can generally expect quick results the next day or within 2-3 days.
Do they also help prevent acne scars?
In addition to quickly calming acne, inflammation injections play an important role: preventing acne scars. Acne scars are formed when acne continuously destroys skin cells during the inflammatory process. Inflammation injections help prevent acne scars from forming by alleviating inflammation, thereby stopping the progression of inflammatory acne. Therefore, if you are concerned about inflammatory acne, you may consider inflammation injection treatment before it worsens and leads to scarring.
Is it okay to get acne inflammation injections frequently?
Many people wonder if it's okay to get acne inflammation injections frequently or in multiple spots at once, as they are mostly administered on the face and contain a steroid called triamcinolone.
If you have a thorough consultation with a dermatologist, you can rest assured about this.
- Most lesions subside with just one inflammation injection.
- Occasionally, if the inflammation is severe or accompanied by simple scarring lesions, injections may be given up to 3 times.
- Generally, it is not recommended to inject the same area more than twice.
- However, it is generally considered acceptable to inject multiple lesions once each, or to receive treatment multiple times for recurrence.
Misconceptions about tolerance and steroid dosage Many people wonder if frequent injections lead to tolerance, reducing effectiveness. Inflammation injections are administered once or twice for newly formed lesions, so unlike steroid ointments applied for several weeks, they are not known to significantly affect tolerance. Also, some worry that injecting multiple acne spots at once might introduce too much steroid into the body, which could be harmful. However, inflammation injections involve diluting triamcinolone solution and injecting only a small amount, so injecting multiple spots at once does not pose a problem.
Acne inflammation injections may be less effective in these cases
The effectiveness of inflammation injections can vary depending on the type of acne.
- Late stage acne that has already excessively festered: This can be considered missing the optimal timing for inflammation injections, and extraction might be more appropriate than injection.
- Red inflammatory acne (with pain): In these cases, inflammation injections are definitely necessary, and the greatest effect can be expected.
- Comedonal acne (small bumps): Unfortunately, inflammation injections have almost no effect on comedonal acne. On the contrary, you might experience side effects like skin indentation.
What if the skin indents after an inflammation injection?
Sometimes, skin indentation occurs after an inflammation injection. This can primarily be due to the following reasons:
- When the injection is given for comedonal acne rather than inflammatory acne.
- When a large amount of high-concentration injection solution is used to achieve quick results.
- When the injection is administered over an area wider than the lesion.
This happens because the steroid component of the inflammation injection can cause skin cells to atrophy when injected into non-inflammatory areas or in excessive amounts.
However, skin indentation caused by inflammation injections usually recovers over several months, so there is no need to worry too much. If it does not recover after several months, it might be a type of depressed acne scar different from what is caused by inflammation injections, so it is advisable to visit a dermatologist for a consultation.
How is extraction performed after an inflammation injection?
Lesions that require an inflammation injection are often impossible to extract due to inflammation. In such cases, an inflammation injection is given, and extraction is skipped. If the lesion is severely festered and extraction is possible, the injection may be given after extraction.
When acne worsens after an injection
Occasionally, acne may worsen after an injection. This usually happens when the effect of the injection cannot keep up with the progression of the inflammation. In such cases, extraction is often needed because the lesion has already festered. Therefore, if it has worsened, you may need to receive an injection after extraction, or if extraction is not possible, another inflammation injection may be necessary. Medication may also need to be combined depending on the condition.
We have now covered common questions related to acne inflammation injections. If you have any further questions about acne inflammation injections, please consult with a dermatologist.