Guides / Injection sites and why rotation matters
Injection sites and why rotation matters
2 min read
In short: Injecting into the same spot over and over can cause lumps under the skin that change how well a dose is absorbed. Move between areas, and between spots within an area, and keep a record so you know where you went last.
Common sites for injections under the skin
- Stomach: avoiding a 5 cm circle around the belly button
- Front and outer thighs
- Back of the upper arms
- Upper outer buttocks
Your healthcare professional or pharmacist should show you the right technique and sites for your medicine.
Why rotate?
Repeated injections in one spot can cause lipohypertrophy: rubbery lumps of fatty tissue under the skin. Doses injected into these lumps can be absorbed unpredictably, and the lumps can take months to go away.
A simple rotation habit
- Use one area for a week, or alternate left and right.
- Within an area, move each injection a couple of finger-widths from the last.
- Log the site each time. The app's body map does this and suggests the spot you used longest ago.
- Check your sites now and then for lumps, dents or hard patches, and skip them until they settle.
Keep reading
General information, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions and your healthcare professional.