Acne scars and cortisone shots?

**Castor87** · 07-28-2012, 04:36 PM

Hey guys,

I've had some pretty severe cystic acne on my chest and shoulders since I was about 13. I've been on accutane twice and it's cleared up all my active zits but I'm left with horrible hyperpigmentation and hypertrophic scars. The marks are a red/pink colour. I've had cortisone shots in them a few years ago and this did seem to flatten them a little but didn't make too much difference. I've tried all types of skin creams/oils apart from anything with hydroquinone or kojic acid, and have even had a few laser sessions that did absolutely nothing.

I'm kind of at a wits end with what to do, I just came off a cycle and it's coming in to summer, I look great but if I take my shirt off the spots just draw way too much attention. I think out of everything the cortisone injections worked the best, but I'm a little weary of getting more of them in case it manages seep into the blood stream or muscle tissue and cause local atrophy.

If anyone could comment on this or give me some suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it!

**ScotchGuard02** · 07-28-2012, 10:22 PM

Benzyl peroxide based soap will cause the skin to shed layers and get down to the acne and the oxygen will kill the acne bacteria. That's on over the counter source you can try. You can also get a chemical peel from a dermatologist. It's expensive but it works.

**abstetic** · 07-29-2012, 01:35 AM

Skinculture.com buy the body peel or 4000 peel it should be gone in a week

AD · 07-29-2012, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by Castor87

Hey guys,

I've had some pretty severe cystic acne on my chest and shoulders since I was about 13. I've been on accutane twice and it's cleared up all my active zits but I'm left with horrible hyperpigmentation and hypertrophic scars. The marks are a red/pink colour. I've had cortisone shots in them a few years ago and this did seem to flatten them a little but didn't make too much difference. I've tried all types of skin creams/oils apart from anything with hydroquinone or kojic acid, and have even had a few laser sessions that did absolutely nothing.

I'm kind of at a wits end with what to do, I just came off a cycle and it's coming in to summer, I look great but if I take my shirt off the spots just draw way too much attention. I think out of everything the cortisone injections worked the best, but I'm a little weary of getting more of them in case it manages seep into the blood stream or muscle tissue and cause local atrophy.

If anyone could comment on this or give me some suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it!

Intra-lesional corticosteroid injections if done properly will not go into the bloodstream much. Very minute amounts may be absorbed by surrounding capilaries but concentrations will be too low to cause any systemic effects. And being an injection into the skin only, it will definitely not affect or cause any atrophy in the underlying muscles. I dont think you need to worry too much.