INFO - Side effects of steroid injections

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From Southern Medical Journal

Posted 05 Mar 2007

Kennedy Okere, MD; C. , PharmD, BCPS

" A Case of Skin Hypopigmentation Secondary to a Corticosteroid Injection " :

Excerpt:

Adverse effects of injectable steroids include atrophy of the skin,

irritation at the injection site, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation,

alopecia, telangiectasia, striae, and acneiform eruptions.[3,4,5]

Hypopigmentation has been documented in case reports as an adverse

effect of steroid injections of the hand,[3] metatarsophalangeal

joints of the foot,[6] the knees, thumb, sternum, and calf.[7] Several

of these sites were injected to reduce the size of keloid

structures.[7] Most reported cases occurred in African Americans.[3,7]

In the documented cases, the hypopigmentation generally occurred

several months after one or more steroid injections.[3,6,7] The

hypopigmented area began to resolve without further treatment several

months after the discontinuation of the steroid in the majority of

cases.[3,6,7] One case reported an area of unresolved hypopigmentation

one year after injection of the site.[7] The etiology of

steroid-induced hypopigmentation remains unknown. It has been proposed

that steroids may reduce the number or activity of melanocytes,[4,7]

presumably by unintentional migration of the steroid in the proximity

of the injection site or by improper injection technique.[7]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/552797_3

Not an MD