Acne Care in Waxhaw

Painful, swollen cystic acne can be frustrating, especially when you need fast relief. At our urgent care clinic, we offer intralesional steroid injections to quickly reduce inflammation and speed healing of large, deep acne cysts.

What Is an Intralesional Steroid Injection?

An intralesional steroid injection involves placing a small amount of corticosteroid medication ( triamcinolone/Kenalog) directly into an inflamed acne cyst. This treatment:

• Reduces redness and swelling
• Relieves tenderness and pressure
• Helps flatten the cyst
• May prevent scarring

Most patients notice significant improvement within 24–48 hours.

Who Is This Treatment For?

This treatment is ideal for:

• Large, painful cystic acne lesions
• Acne nodules that are not responding to topical treatments
• Sudden flare-ups before an important event
• Isolated cysts causing discomfort

It is not typically used for mild acne, blackheads, or whiteheads. This treatment is ideal for individual or limited lesions, not widespread acne.

What to Expect During the Visit

1. Evaluation: A medical provider examines the lesion to confirm it is appropriate for injection.
2. Preparation: The area is cleaned.
3. Injection: A very small needle is used to inject medication directly into the cyst. The procedure takes only a few minutes.
4. Aftercare: You can resume normal activities immediately.

Most patients tolerate the injection well. Discomfort is brief and minimal.

How Quickly Does It Work?

• Swelling and pain often improve within 24 hours
• Significant flattening usually occurs within 1–3 days
• Full healing continues over the next several days

Are There Side Effects?

Side effects are uncommon but may include:

• Temporary tenderness at the injection site
• Mild skin thinning or slight indentation (rare and usually temporary)
• Lightening of the skin at the injection site (uncommon)

Our providers use the lowest effective dose to minimize risks.

When to Seek Treatment

You may benefit from urgent evaluation if your acne cyst:

• Is rapidly enlarging
• Is very painful
• Shows signs of infection (increasing redness, warmth, drainage, fever)
• Is causing emotional distress or risk of scarring

Why Choose Urgent Care for Cystic Acne?

Unlike waiting weeks for a dermatology appointment, urgent care offers:

• Same-day treatment
• Fast relief
• Convenient walk-in availability
• Affordable care

If you’re dealing with a painful cystic acne flare-up, we’re here to help you feel better - quickly.