A Substitute for Acne Antibiotics
A quick, relatively painless procedure, know as an intralesional cortisone (steroid) injection, is extremely effective in reducing the pain, swelling, and redness of acne nodules or papules (cysts). These shots are particularly effective for the larger, long lasting lesions.
Each papule or nodule is given a single injection of a dilute cortisone solution, using a tiny, unltrathin needle.
The injection can hurt a little, however, within just a few days, the lesions soften, and in a week they become flat. Sometimes, the injections must be repeated in a month (or more) if the lesions aren’t responding.
Many folks are needle shy, however, after the first successful experience with this method, most come back asking for more. Also the bigger the cysts are, the less the needle hurts.
If too strong a concentration of cortisone is used, atrophy. or depressed scars that look like dents in the skin, may result at the injected sites. These dents usually reslove after several months, but they can be permanent. Similar atrophy may also have been the “normal” healing response of the inflamed lesion if it had not been injected.
The intralesional injections also serve as antibiotic sparers. If only a few lesions are present, say about one to five, these injections can serve as a substitute for oral antibiotics or allow your doctor to lower their dosage.
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