This leaflet answers common questions about triamcinolone acetonide intradermal injection 10mg/ml, a medicine used to treat thickened scar tissue called keloid or hypertrophic scars.

Before carrying out any procedure or treatment, we will seek your consent. Staff will explain the procedure or treatment to you, along with the associated risks, benefits and alternatives before they ask you for your consent.

If you would like further information, or have any particular questions, please do not hesitate to ask your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist.

In most cases it will be possible for a friend or relative to accompany you for all or part of the procedure. Please ask your healthcare practitioner.

What is triamcinolone acetonide intradermal injection?  

Triamcinolone acetonide is a corticosteroid medicine used to treat thickened scar tissue called keloid and hypertrophic scars. Corticosteroids, commonly known as steroids, occur naturally in the body and reduce inflammation (swelling and redness) associated with active keloid and hypertrophic scars.  

What you need to know before you have the steroid injection

Do not have the injection if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the medicine or if you have an infection.

Tell your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist if you have or have had any of the following conditions:  

  • infection (including tuberculosis)
  • recent bowel surgery/bowel disorder/stomach ulcer
  • inflammation of veins in legs
  • mental health disorders/severe depression/epilepsy
  • kidney/liver/thyroid problems
  • cancer
  • brittle bones (osteoporosis)
  • myasthenia gravis
  • high blood pressure/heart failure
  • glaucoma (or family member)
  • diabetes

Tell your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist if you have come in to contact with anyone with chickenpox, shingles or measles as steroid injections suppress how your body defends itself against infection and disease (its immune response). 

You should not have triamcinolone acetonide intradermal injection if you are: 

  • pregnant or breast feeding
  • due to have surgery

If you are taking other medications

Tell your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, both prescription and herbal. If you are taking other medications, the effects of triamcinolone acetonide intradermal injection may be increased.

It is particularly important to tell your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist if you take the following medications:

  • Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)

  • Antiretroviral inhibitors and antifungals: ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, telithromycin
  • Warfarin or other medications to thin the blood
  • Oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy
  • Human growth hormone
  • Cyclosporin
  • Rifampicin
  • HIV medicines: ritonavir, cobicistat
  • Or medicines to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, tuberculosis, diabetes, thyroid problems

How is the triamcinolone acetonide injection given?

Your nurse or doctor will explain how the injection is given as follows:

  1. You will be seated or lying down on the treatment couch. 
  2. Your keloid or hypertrophic scar will be prepared using an antiseptic skin cleanser called ChloraPrep®. 
  3. Your nurse or doctor will inject triamcinolone acetonide into your keloid or hypertrophic scar/s 10mg/ml – 30mg (depending on size of scar/s). 
  4. The injection may sting and cause some discomfort for a short period of time afterwards.
  5. You may find that an ice pack applied to the keloid or hypertrophic scar/s relieves discomfort after the injection.
  6. Your nurse or doctor will apply a small plaster dressing after the injection.  

Be aware of potential side effects

Not everyone will experience side effects after the injection but tell your doctor pharmacist or nurse if you do.  You can also report any side effects directly to the Yellow Card Scheme which collects information on adverse (bad) reactions to medicines at  

Triamcinolone acetonide intradermal injection can cause the following reactions to the site of the skin:

  • tiny thread veins (telangiectasia) to surrounding skin
  • darkening (hyperpigmentation) or lightening of skin (hypopigmentation)
  • thinning of skin (atrophy)     

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience more serious side effects, such as:

  • Swelling of face, lips, or throat, breathing difficulties, itchy skin, redness/rash
  • Mood changes, feeling depressed, anxious, irritable, problems sleeping, confusion, loss of memory
  • Generally feel unwell: heart problems, muscle weakness, stomach pain, eye problems, yeast /fungal infections, tiredness, weight loss, diabetes, poor healing, pain swelling and worsening pain at injection site, high body temperature, high/low blood pressure, abnormal blood clots, longstanding chronic infections.

What does triamcinolone acetonide intradermal injection contain?

The injection contains active substance triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/ml, benzyl alcohol, polysorbate 80, carmellose sodium, sodium chloride, and water.