Silicone Granulomas in the Setting of Acupuncture with Silicone-Coated Needles

Silicone is widely used in various capacities in medicine including aesthetic and prosthetic joint implants as well as in the coating of vials, catheters, drains, shunts, and needles. Silicone-coated needles have become increasingly popular in alternative medicine techniques such as acupuncture to ease the insertion of needles. It has been well established that silicone can lead to a foreign body granulomatous reaction in the skin with the first histopathologic cases reported in 1964. Herein, we present what is believed to be the third reported case of silicone granulomas secondary to silicone-coated acupuncture needles.