Intralesional injection
An intralesional injection is one of the medical procedures through which the drug is directly injected into the affected skin area or inside the lesions either for treating the medical condition or for aesthetic purposes. The main objective of this method of drug delivery is to make available the drug available at the site of action/affected site for maximum efficacy with minimum side effects of the drug.
Intralesional injections are considered for treating the following skin conditions –
- Keloid
- Acne cyst/scar
- Alopecia areata
- Hypertrophic scar
- Psoriasis
- Facial wrinkles
The medication considered for intralesional injections is corticosteroid for treating the underlying inflammation which either heals or shrinks the lesion. Sometimes, multiple injections are required to achieve desired results. For treating facial wrinkles, dermal fillers or Botulinum toxin are injected for reducing wrinkles or for aesthetic purposes.
Dermatologists will discuss the benefits of this treatment over the possible risks before administrating the drugs.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
A. No. Usually, intralesional injections of steroids are considered for treating inflammatory skin conditions like –
keloid and hypertrophic scar, alopecia areata, vitiligo, discoid lupus erythematosus, Psoriasis, and lichenified skin disorders whereas
immunotherapy and other drugs are considered for treating psoriasis/ warts, etc. Sometimes intralesional dermal fillers are considered for aesthetic purposes.
A. Intralesional procedure is done with a sterile syringe & fine needle. The pre-preparation includes –
- Numbing of the site
- Sterility of the site
- Injecting the site with drug
This procedure is done in clinical setup under the supervision of a doctor and patient is monitored for few minutes. Post-procedure skin care is instructed
A. The patient may experience some discomfort or little pain while injection otherwise the whole procedure is done after numbing the site with topical/local anaesthetics.
A. As the drug is injected into the affected skin, the results are also visible in a few days but it also depends upon the individual’s response to medication and severity. For a severe or chronic condition, multiple injections are required for the desired outcome.
A. The patient may experience pain, swelling, or discolouration at the site of injection as a side effect of intralesional injections. Some may experience systemic side effects too. The healthcare provider will discuss the risk and benefits and its management before the treatment.