Site of Repeated Subcutaneous Injections | Cosmetic Skin Changes

Skin changes that may develop at the site of subcutaneous injections:

(1) simple bruising (may show variegate coloring for days or even weeks)

(2) hemosiderin deposits

(3) drug-associated pigmentation

(4) plaque formation

(5) scarring

(6) keloid

(7) amyloid lesions (with insulin, which can form amyloid fibrils)

(8) changes in subcutaneous fat (lipoatrophy, lipohypertrophy, etc)

Patients who are more likely to be bothered by these changes:

(1) child or adolescent, especially if at a sight which can be seen by others

(2) concerned about appearance (actor, model, etc.)

(3) hypochondriac

(4) person exposing large areas of skin (in a swim suit, during the summer)

(5) lesions too numerous or large to hide