Treatment of local, persistent cutaneous atrophy following corticosteroid injection with normal saline infiltration.
BACKGROUND
Injections of corticosteroids are commonly used for a variety a dermatologic conditions but may cause local, persistent cutaneous atrophy, with few therapeutic options.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of bacteriostatic normal saline infiltration on the improvement of corticosteroid-induced cutaneous atrophy.


METHODS
Four patients with corticosteroid-induced atrophy of the skin, two caused by acneiform cysts and one from intramuscular steroid injection, were treated with weekly injections of normal saline directly into the atrophic site. The patients were seen on weekly follow-up visits, and improvement was documented.


RESULTS
All four patients demonstrated complete resolution of skin atrophy and restoration of surface contour within 4 to 8 weeks of initial presentation. Injected volumes of normal saline ranged from 5 to 20 cm(3) per treatment session and three to six weekly treatments. The patients were completely satisfied with these results.


CONCLUSIONS
Normal saline infiltration offers a safe, tolerable, relatively rapid, and effective treatment for local, persistent corticosteroid-induced atrophy.
Shumaker
Peter R
PR
Dermatology Department, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
Rao
Jaggi
J
Goldman
Mitchel P
MP
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D012965:Sodium Chloride