Atrophy from cortisone injection

Hi there. My wife received a cortisone injection into her hip 7 months ago to treat pytiriasis rosea symptoms. A few weeks after the injection, the area began to atrophy and turn a light purple color.

Over the past several months, it slowly got worse, and is now a very prominent, 1 inch in diameter pit (1cm deep) that shows no signs of getting better.

So my questions to you:

1.) Did the nurse do something wrong while injecting this, or is it just a normal side effect?

2.) Is there anything we can do cosmetically to fix this, or will it naturally heal? And if so, how long will it take to heal (since it has been 7 months already).

Thanks so much,
Tom

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Injection of cortisone deep into tissue can cause thinning of skin,  This usually resolves in 6 months, though in your wife's case it is clearly taking longer.  There is no way to speed the process, though.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff