The invention refers to an auto-injector (1) for administering a dose of a liquid medicament (M), comprising: - an outer casing (2), a syringe (3) with a hollow needle (4) and a stopper (25) - a torsion spring (11) and a gear arrangement for inserting the needle (4), delivering the medicament (M), and retracting the syringe (3) after injection. At least one skin contact trigger element (17.2) is arranged at a proximal (P) end of the outer case (2), the skin contact trigger element (17.2) translatable in longitudinal direction between a proximal position and a distal position and biased in proximal direction (P) in a manner to protrude from the outer casing (2) in the proximal position, wherein in its proximal position the skin contact trigger element (17.2) is arranged to prevent the spring means (11) from being released and wherein the skin contact trigger element (17.2) in its distal position is arranged to allow release of the spring means (11).
