Injection site rotation chart
Common subcutaneous (subQ) injection sites
Subcutaneous shots go into the fatty layer just under the skin. These are the areas most often used. Your healthcare provider will tell you which ones are right for you.
- Abdomen. The soft area around the belly button, staying a couple of inches away from it. Splitting it into four parts (upper and lower, left and right) makes rotating easy.
- Thighs. The front and outer part of the upper thigh, between the knee and the hip.
- Back of the upper arms. The fleshy area on the back of the arm, between the shoulder and the elbow. This one can be hard to reach on your own.
- Glutes. The upper, outer part of the buttocks.
Skip any spot with scars, bruises, moles, stretch marks or skin that is sore, red or hard.
Why rotate injection sites?
Injecting into the same spot again and again can leave the tissue under the skin lumpy, firm or tender, and medication may not absorb as evenly from that tissue. Moving to a different spot each time gives the skin time to recover.
Within each spot, move a little each time too, so shots don't land on top of each other. If you notice lumps, dents, lasting redness or pain at a site, stop using it and talk to your healthcare provider.
How to use this chart
- Tap each spot you use on the front and back body map. The numbers show the order.
- Set the day of your first shot and how often you take it.
- Choose a pattern: go around each area, or switch area every shot.
- Print the chart and tick off each shot, or log it in the PeptideKit app.
Questions
- Does the order matter?
- What matters most is not using the same spot over and over. A fixed order just makes it easy to remember where you are. Pick the pattern that's easiest for you to follow and stick to it.
- Should I go around one area or switch areas every shot?
- Both spread your shots out. Going around one area (for example the four parts of the abdomen) is simple to remember. Switching area every shot gives each area a longer rest. Your healthcare provider may prefer one or the other.
- How many sites should I use?
- Use the sites your provider has shown you. More sites in the rotation means each spot gets more time between shots.
- Is anything I enter saved or sent anywhere?
- No. The chart is built in your browser. Nothing you pick here is uploaded or stored.
- How does the PeptideKit app help?
- When you log a shot in PeptideKit you tap the spot on a body map. The app keeps that history, so you can see your recent sites and dates instead of keeping a paper chart up to date.
Keep your rotation on your phone
Log the site with every shot on a body map, get reminders on any schedule, and see your history at a glance.
Scan with your iPhone camera
to download PeptideKit