Can cortisone injections cause vitiligo?
Disease description:
I received a corticosteroid injection for pain caused by tendon sheath inflammation, and afterward my arm developed white patches. Later, I went to the hospital for examination, and the doctor mentioned it might be vitiligo, requiring further observation for a period of time. I would like to know whether corticosteroid injections can cause vitiligo.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Administering local steroid injections may potentially trigger vitiligo, but this is not absolute. The medication in the injection might irritate the local skin, causing an inflammatory response that leads the body to produce antibodies attacking its own melanocytes, resulting in destruction of melanocytes, affecting skin pigmentation, and possibly inducing vitiligo. The development of vitiligo is also influenced by multiple factors such as genetics, sun exposure, mental stress, and immune system abnormalities.
Therefore, when deciding whether to use local steroid injections, a comprehensive assessment of the patient's individual condition, including skin type, physical condition, and medical history, should be conducted, and professional medical advice should be sought. If symptoms such as white patches on the skin appear after receiving steroid injections, prompt medical consultation and examination are necessary to determine whether vitiligo has developed, and targeted treatment should be carried out under a doctor's guidance.
