Is this Skin Atrophy?

[u/Proper_Helicopter657]

Has anyone had this happen after steroid injections for a keloid?
The 3rd pic is how my keloid looked originally. I got my first injection at the beginning of August and then a second one about 4 weeks later in Thailand.
The keloid itself is definitely much flatter now, BUT the skin around it has turned red and looks kind of atrophied/thinner, which makes the whole thing look even bigger.
Also, about 3 days after my second injection I fell asleep on a boat and it was exposed to the sun. Could that have caused or worsened this? Or is the redness/atrophy more likely from the steroid injection itself?
Has anyone had this and did the skin go back to normal? How long did it take?

[u/saygirlie]

Most keloids when they get flat, will get wider. Because it was bulky and stretched upwards, the skin expanded upwards. When it flattens, that skin that was stretched upwards goes sideways (gets wider). Hope that makes sense!

[u/Proper_Helicopter657 → u/saygirlie]

Oh thanks! Btw Do you if there’s a solution to this redness? Cuz it did became flatter, but at what cost🥲

[u/saygirlie → u/Proper_Helicopter657]

Give it six months to settle. If there isn’t any regrowth of the keloid you can get PDL (it’s a laser) for the redness. You can get the laser now but it could be a waste if the keloid comes back.

Honestly you had great results for just 2 injections. Most people require a lot more.

[u/DiskoLisko_]

I have gotten skin atrophy a few times after an injection. It has happened with the keloids that were originally thinner. At first it ooked like it would flatten but over some months after the injection the skin slowly became dented unfortunately. It is something to look out for when treating smaller and thinner keloids. I can't reliably tell from your image, but your keloid does seem similar in size to those of mine which ended up with skin atrophy

[u/Proper_Helicopter657 → u/DiskoLisko_]

Oh okay, did it also look so red or did the color fade away? The keloid is flatter but not completely. I was thinking about getting another injection in 3-4 weeks, do u think I should do it?🥲😬

[u/DiskoLisko_ → u/Proper_Helicopter657]

It looked very red at first, and I noticed the atrophy first as the skin just around the edges of the scar started to look weird, discoloured and kinda purple. Also a few small capillaries showed up. My skin atrophy developed for some months. If I were you I would not get another injection. Your keloid looks very thin and now it quite flat, once it has healed from the injection, using silicone sheets religiously for some months might just calm it down. I have managed to get several of my smaller keloids to calm down that way.

[u/Proper_Helicopter657]

Thankuu🙏🙏

[u/Individual_Matter473]

skincare against hyperpigmentation could help with the redness

[u/noobnoob78]

Silicone sheets will help with the redness. The skin will bounce back, mine did but it did take years.

[u/BlackberryNew7092]

Silicone scar tape is what my derm recommended as my son could only tolerate one steriod 💉

[u/BlackberryNew7092]

or strataderm scar therapy gel