Dr. Abdulaziz AlRashed — Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic & Laser

Intralesional Steroid Injections (Keloids, Alopecia & More)

Last reviewed 1 July 2026 — Dr. Abdulaziz AlRashed

A patient advice sheet — 8 practical points. Reviewed and updated by Dr. Abdulaziz AlRashed, July 2026.

Last reviewed: July 2026

The advice

Intralesional steroid injections place a very small dose inside the lesion itself (keloid, alopecia patches, stubborn acne nodules) so it acts locally with high effectiveness.
Absorption into the body is minimal — at these doses they do not cause the well-known general "cortisone" effects; no need to worry.
During: a brief sting for seconds; a numbing cream beforehand is possible for children and the very sensitive.
Afterwards: mild soreness and swelling for a day, sometimes a small bruise; normal washing is fine and make-up from the next day.
A possible local effect: slight skin thinning, a small dent, or lightening at the injection site (especially in darker skin) — it usually recovers over months; tell us if a clear dent appears.
When results show: in alopecia hair usually regrows within 4–6 weeks; keloids soften and flatten gradually over several sessions.
Sessions are usually repeated every 4–6 weeks — keeping the schedule is the key to the result.
Contact us for: signs of infection (increasing redness, pus) or worsening pain.

See also the full treatment page: Acne scar treatment — options, evidence and expected timelines.

My private clinic at Kuwait Hospital (Sabah Al-Salem) — direct assessment and a treatment plan built around your case.