Side effects from steroid injection

[SamK7]

Hello, I'm 18-year-old female, and I had a severe atopic dermatitis all over my body, so doctor prescribed me one steroid injection, Diprophos (betamethasone), which I was given maybe 12 days ago. Dermatitis is now gone. However, ever since the injection, a relatively small bumps have started appearing in different places on my body, mostly on face; they are just like insect bites, red and they itch terribly - they appear very fast and they don't last more than one hour. After disappearing, my skin is normal on that place again. What could this be?

Second, prior to receiving an injection, I've gotten rid of my perioral dermatitis and now that I've been treated with Diprophos, are there any chances for it NOT to come back? I know that steroid worsens it inevitably, but since it's an injection and not applied topically right on the face... I'm still kind of hopeful.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Your symptoms are suggestive of hives. Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.

Many cases of hives are "idiopathic," meaning no cause is known. Others may be triggered by viral infections or medications. Treatment is by oral antihistamines. You can also apply 1%hydrocortisone cream on the effected area. Try taking Vitamin C along with this treatment. Vitamin C is a general anti-allergy supplement. It helps stabilize mast cells so they are less likely to release histamine.

Please see your dermatologist if the condition does not improve. I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[SamK7]

Hello? Anyone?