Interestingly, the answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. It's more of a "maybe, but probably not."
Anecdotally, our founder, Dr. Nina Ross has seen many cases where injections failed to make things better. “I get SO many clients that tried steroid shots and they almost all say that it made their condition worse. Before recommending shots we need to truly understand CCCA and how complex it is”
What exactly are steroid shots?
Before we get into the details of whether steroid injections work or not, let's talk about what they actually are. Steroid shots are a solution of cortisone (which is a type of steroid) that is injected directly into the scalp to reduce inflammation and treat alopecia.
Many Doctors try steroid injections for CCCA, but do they make it better or worse?
The procedure is fairly simple; your doctor will inject the solution into your scalp at multiple sites around your scalp. The number of injections will vary depending on the severity of your condition.
How steroid injections for CCCA CAN HELP
Steroid injections can help reduce inflammation and swelling, which in turn helps to control CCCA. Steroid injections can also help promote hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp.
This is because steroid injections cause your body to release more of its own anti-inflammatory chemicals, which reduces swelling in the area where they are injected. Steroid injections can also help to promote hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp. This is because steroid injections cause your body to release more of its own anti-inflammatory chemicals, which reduces swelling in the area where they are injected.
Side Effects of steroid injections for CCCA:
Skin thinning: Steroid injections can thin the skin and the fat under the skin, and is perhaps the most important concern. This can cause the skin to appear paler and more wrinkled, and the skin can start showing thread veins. If there is thinning of the fat, then dimples can appear. Any indentations are usually on temporary and recover with time.
Pigmentation disturbance: Very rarely, there can be loss of pigmentation at the site of steroid injection. Occasionally hyperpigmentation can be seen too.
Acne: Acne and folliculitis type spots (pustules) can occur in an area treated with steroid injection.
Absorption into the rest of the body: It is probable that a small amount of the steroid injected into the skin reaches the rest of the body. This can be a significant amount if a large area needs to be treated. In these instances it is possible that side effects such as diabetes, high blood pressure, bone thinning, disturbance in the menstrual cycle and a temporary reduction in the immune system could occur.
You may also notice that your skin becomes dry and itchy. You may also have acne or an increase in facial hair. The use of steroids can lead to thinning of the skin which can actually cause more hair loss and make you more susceptible to infections.
Putting it together
So, what's the bottom line?
It is not a cure. Steroid shots can help with CCCA, but they are not a cure. The injections need to be done regularly to keep your hair looking good and growing in healthy, thick hair.
They have side effects. With any medication or treatment there are going to be side effects for you as an individual so it's important that you discuss this with your doctor before trying anything new.
Do your research! If you’re not careful, steroid shots could really put you in a worse position than when you started.
If you're considering steroid shots for CCCA, it's important to understand the possible side effects. While these may not be life-threatening or permanent, they can still cause significant discomfort and impact your aesthetic goals.
If you prefer a more holistic approach, you can use other methods such as Growth Factors and inflammation reducing Topical Sprays.
We hope you found this short article about steroid shots for CCCA useful, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.