How long does steroid injection take to work for acne keloidalis nuchae?

The medicine is placed into raised, inflamed bumps at the back of the scalp or neck. Early changes may include less tenderness, itching, redness, or firmness. A bump can remain raised even after inflammation has settled, so improvement is judged by both symptoms and texture.

Acne keloidalis nuchae can recur when new inflammation or ingrown hairs continue. Treatment may therefore be planned as a series, with the interval chosen by the clinician after examining your response.

Keep the injection sites clean, avoid picking or shaving closely over active bumps, and follow the aftercare instructions you were given. Take a clear photo in similar lighting before follow-up so gradual changes are easier to compare.

Tell the clinician about increasing pain, drainage, skin thinning, or a pale or darker patch at an injection site. These details can affect whether the next session is delayed, adjusted, or replaced with another approach.

Contact the treating clinic promptly if swelling spreads, the area becomes hot and very painful, pus develops, or you feel unwell. Seek urgent help for facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or a rapidly worsening reaction.

Ask which changes should appear first, when your response will be reviewed, and how the clinician will distinguish active inflammation from a persistent scar-like bump.