Vertical sunken line on forehead after steroid injection - how can I treat this? (Photos)

Thank you for sharing your photos and details—this really helps to understand what you’re dealing with. What you’re describing sounds like steroid-induced atrophy, which can happen after intralesional steroid injections like Kenalog. It occurs when the steroid causes local thinning of the skin and sometimes underlying fat, leading to the “sunken” lines you’re noticing.

A few important points:

Improvement is possible, but it can be slow and unpredictable. Mild cases sometimes improve over several months as the skin gradually recovers.

Topical treatments like pimecrolimus or other skin-healing creams may help support recovery, but they usually cannot fully restore the lost volume.

Dermal fillers can be an effective way to restore volume and smooth the sunken lines. Hyaluronic acid fillers, for example, can fill the atrophic area and improve contour. Sometimes a small, carefully placed amount can make a significant difference.

Fat grafting is another option for more persistent or deeper atrophy, though it is more invasive.

It’s understandable that this is very bothersome, especially when it affects areas visible even with makeup. Monitoring for any spontaneous improvement while planning for a minimally invasive corrective option, like fillers, is usually the most practical approach.

With proper assessment, the sunken lines can often be significantly improved, though results vary depending on the depth and severity of the atrophy. Patience and careful treatment planning are key here.

It appears you developed steroid atrophy which usually resolves . It can take 2-3 months but the Kenalog crystallized in the subcutaneous tissue. One easy treatment is a series of 2-4 injections with saline Inject normal saline (0.5–1.0 mL, depending on dent) to help dissolve steroid crystals
• Repeat every 2–4 weeks × 2–4 sessions
• Works best if done early

Mechanism: hydrodilution and flushing of steroid particles. See if you can find a local provider to do saline injections