How long does a steroid injection take to work for prurigo nodularis?

Intralesional corticosteroid is placed directly into selected nodules, where it can quiet the inflammation that helps maintain itch and thickness. Itch may ease before the bump has lost its firmness. Older, larger, or repeatedly scratched nodules can change more slowly, and nearby untreated nodules may continue to itch. Improvement is easier to judge by tracking sleep, scratching, tenderness, and texture rather than expecting every mark to vanish at once.

Keep the treated spots clean and avoid rubbing or scratching them while they settle. Use only the aftercare recommended by the treating clinician, and mention any medicines or skin conditions that could affect healing. Note whether itch returns between visits and whether new nodules appear. Covering or trimming rough nails may reduce skin injury from scratching. Your clinician can decide whether further injections, itch control, or another treatment is suitable after examining the response.

Seek prompt advice for increasing redness, warmth, drainage, severe pain, skin breakdown, or fever around an injection site. Contact the clinician if the area becomes markedly lighter or thinner, or if nodules change rapidly. Widespread itch, a new rash, or poor healing also deserves review because these findings may need a broader assessment than an injection alone.

When should itch reduction begin for my nodules? Which changes should I record between visits? How can I protect the treated skin while it heals, and what is the plan if other nodules keep appearing?