Cortisone shots can cause atrophy, but from everything I have read, the atrophy is temporary and resolves itself. There's a small amount of research that shows that tretinoin might help get your skin back to normal a bit faster.

Keep us posted.

I have this exact same thing right now, too! I got a cortisone shot near my hairline for hair loss ¦ then a dent popped up a few weeks later at the top of my head exactly where the cortisone shot was injected, then a vertical line that went from the dent all the way down my forehead. My dermatologist also told me it could take up to 6 months to resolve itself. She told me she used such a small dose of cortisone so it would not cause any harm. 
 

I feel ya- I already have acne scars on my forehead and now with this indented line, it sucks even more. I think it™s just a waiting game but I™d love to hear any other stories too who have gone through this 

Oh Im so so sorry Lmk5, it is so devastating and hard to look at every single day! So far I have done 6 weekly saline injections and after a few hours each time it wore off and havent seen any noticeable improvement. I saw a different dermatologist this week that a friend sees, she seemed to think it would resolve on its own but could be 6-12 months. She was suggesting a small amount of filler could help bridge that time gap.

Imjust not sure Im ready to risk making this any worse and worried about possible bumps filler can leave behind. Ive been taking a lot of collagen type 2 and 3 and vitamin c pills every day, collagen in my coffee, trying to massage the area, and may just see if I can get to March when it would be 6 months. Id hate to spend the cost of fillers with no guarantee if theres a chance it would resolve on its own.

Posted by: @Cyclone123

Oh Im so so sorry Lmk5, it is so devastating and hard to look at every single day! So far I have done 6 weekly saline injections and after a few hours each time it wore off and havent seen any noticeable improvement. I saw a different dermatologist this week that a friend sees, she seemed to think it would resolve on its own but could be 6-12 months. She was suggesting a small amount of filler could help bridge that time gap.

Imjust not sure Im ready to risk making this any worse and worried about possible bumps filler can leave behind. Ive been taking a lot of collagen type 2 and 3 and vitamin c pills every day, collagen in my coffee, trying to massage the area, and may just see if I can get to March when it would be 6 months. Id hate to spend the cost of fillers with no guarantee if theres a chance it would resolve on its own.

any updates on this? I am hoping yours totally cleared up. I Going through something similar right now. 🙁

Hi all - any updates here? Dealing with the same thing right now and looking for any temporary and long term solutions.

Hi, I would say the dent is gone and my forehead is mostly back to normal. Sometimes its hard to tell because there is a very, very slight line in the same spot - but honestly I think its the start of a wrinkle since Im in my mid 30s. However, its NOTHING like it was a couple years ago. I stopped after 7 or 8 saline injections and just let it be. I make sure Im moisturizing every day, and also use the Needleless Serum from the Drmtlgy brand, and I think that helps a tiny bit to plump it up.

I hope you all start seeing some progress! It can feel so embarrassing so I completely get it.

Thank you so much for your response! I know its been a couple years now, but when did you start to see a noticeable difference? The vertical line is so odd (mines identical to yours) considering the zit was 1/5th of the dent now. Did you get any answers as to why its that shape? Also, any downside to weekly saline shots? Im just planning to do that until its resolved. Thank you again for your quick response!

I am dealing with this right now. It is horrible. I had a shot Dec 26th and noticed some bluish tinge to the area and then it feels like I just woke up with this deep line in my left cheek out of nowhere..and it just got worse from April to now...I am devastated. I realize not a possible cause of death but still this is our faces...what can we do? I am afraid to get filler and make things worse and yet, not sure I can go the 6 months to a year to see if it resolves itself...and then reading it can be permanent ..OMG! I am sick! Any thoughtful advice input is most welcome..Thank you and I am so so sorry for all of you who have suffered too. I appreciate your sharing.

With cortisone shots, atrophy is common, but also it's usually temporary. Hang in there and hopefully it will resolve, much like Cyclone 123. Also, if it helps, I doubt anyone but you would notice this. We notice our own imperfections so much more than other people.

Thank you Dan, Thank means a lot to me! I am really anxious and sad all the time over this and even tho I have had a plastic surgeon and 2 derms tell me that this is temporary and will self correct, I feel so defeated. I am grateful to others here like you and Cyclone 123 and Crushed who have given so much support and encouragement. When I look at pics btwn Jan and May I think the dent was starting and it was slow and almost over night come May it was like the sink hole just opened and it traveled down my vein to my jaw line. I have done a round of V beam which significantly improved the blue hue and reds. I also did a round of soft-wave that stimulates collagen and will do another 3 weeks later. I am contemplating saline but holding off on filler as I do not want to complicate the issue. I am taking massive amounts of Vitamin C, D, and Collagen. I have a red light celluma at home that I am using daily. I am putting Retin A on twice daily along with estrogen cream and topical Vitamin C and peptide serums. That is where I am at today...the shot was Dec 26th and the dent began probably Feb but the real notice was end of April start of May. I am now stable and I do think improving somewhat but certainly have a long way to go. I just hope like others here that it is temporary. Thank you all for being here to support one another. It means a lot! FYI..Left is May 30th and Right photo is today, June 13th so 2 weeks later. In certain lighting it is worse than others tho 🙁

Looks like you'll be fine and it will be temporary.

One thing: Be careful about "massive amounts" of vitamin D. Vitamin D can be toxic in high amounts because it's a fat soluble vitamin. This is no joke. I have known family members who thought they had stomach issues and fatigue issues and lost appetite, etc. and it was simply because they were toxic with their vitamin D supplementation.

Thank you so much @Dan! I do appreciate it! Just for those suffering here is May 29 on the left and July 8 on the right ...

Today I did have my first saline injection to help flush out scar tissue and any remaining cortisone crystals. I did bruise a bit so we shall see if it helped at all when the swelling and bruising go down. I am trying to keep the faith as it slowly heals...it is long slow process but keeping the faith and others here have helped immensely!

For those who commented, curious when your marks/dents filled in. Unfortunately the same happened to me, received a cortisone shot in my forehead mid-May to treat a cystic pimple and a month later a long dent appeared. Curious if anyone explored any cosmetic treatments like micro needling or anything along those lines and if it helped. Thanks! Really hoping mine fills in soon.

Posted by: @Cyclone123

Any chance you could share approximately how long it took to fill? Dealing with a similar long dent on my forehead

A few months ago I had a cystic breakout in the center of my forehead and after a week or so of trying to resolve it on my own, I saw a dermatologist and received a cortisone injection. This was my first shot. The pimple was reduced in a couple of days and it seemed to be healing well. 3 weeks later I noticed a vertical dent/line in the center of my forehead. There is a noticeable divot from where the pimple likely was, but itas almost as if the dent moved down the center of my forehead.

It is INCREDIBLY noticeable, and it has been 2 months since it showed up. I have had 3 saline injections so far at the dermatologist but havenat noticed a change. I am completely mortified by this, nothing covers it up and it is a dark line with a noticeable indent in the center of my forehead.

Has anyone else experienced this? Iam so stressed and worried this is permanent. It is obviously worse in certain lighting, and it is quite significant in the attached picture (plus itas a close up).

I would appreciate any advice anyone has, any success stories of timing, etc. the derm that I saw thinks it will resolve eventually, and a friend who is a derm thinks it may take 6-12 months. I just cannot believe this is happening! Please be kind in your comments.

 

i am also having a dent near my nose area. sigh. i can see a little lightening of the skin on the area if the dent 🙁

will it take longer than 6 months? anyone can share?will temporary fillers help? just worried it gets better then the fillers would start popping out instead.