HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Wound Healing & UC

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/11/2023 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

Hoping you might help me on this one! I’ve had UC since 2020, currently in remission while on Saloflak granules and 6 weekly infusions of Infliximab. I’ve had my ears pierced for 15+ years. February gone I purchased new earrings that were gold plated costume jewellery, have bought from this store numerous times and no issue. Also I’ve worn the cheapest of the cheap earrings throughout my life and every type of metal.

Anyway these earrings I purchased the bar was quite thick, I stupidly pushed it in so it would fit. Was a bit uncomfortable but got on with my day, they seemed sore that evening so I removed them and haven’t worn them since.

Since then (Feb 2023) my piercings have been so irritated bleeding, discharge and sore etc. Went to the piercing shop and they advised no infection and gave me hypoallergenic earrings that cause sensitivity (titanium) and told me to keep the area clean for a few weeks.

Long story short, I ended up taking out the earrings two weeks ago as the irritation never stopped 5 months on. Still my piercing is a bit irritating one worse than the other, I clean it regularly etc. The guys in the piecing shop are shocked as to why this is acting up for so long especially when I had hypoallergenic earrings left in.

Anyway my question to you is that do you think this is UC related?? Is my body just painfully slow to heal wounds? It’s such a silly little problem I know but I miss my earrings SO SO much! I feel quite healthy in myself and UC seems under control. Also went to doc and they said they didn’t think it was infected as I would have alot of pain and be sick.

Any help would be appreciated 😊

Saloflak Granules daily
Probiotic morning x1
Infliximab infusion (every 6 weeks)
Posted 7/11/2023 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Susie, this is so strange but something similar happened to me! I got my second holes pierced back in 2017 on my birthday while shopping at the mall. Just a spur of the moment thing but I always liked the look of 2 earrings in each ear. I got nice gold little studs and literally had infections for probably 4-5 months. They just would not heal. I saw my PCP several times because I developed huge cysts on the backs of earlobes. Just crusting a lot and then bleeding. I couldn’t even sleep on my side. I was so annoyed because I cleaned them daily with the solution they gave me. I think my body was just rejecting them. My GI said it is so common to reject piercings and tattoos while on immunosuppressants so I figured I was one of the unlucky ones. It is strange that a new set of earrings did this to you but not too surprising I guess since you are on remicade. My PCP ended up draining them somehow. I can’t remember what she did honestly but I had to put hydrogen peroxide on them and the ointment she prescribed. I assume it was an antibiotic cream but it was so long ago so I don’t remember. This cleared them up finally. I will never get another piercing after that experience.
Posted 7/11/2023 2:57 PM (GMT 0)

susie far said...
Hello All,

Hoping you might help me on this one! I’ve had UC since 2020, currently in remission while on Saloflak granules and 6 weekly infusions of Infliximab. I’ve had my ears pierced for 15+ years. February gone I purchased new earrings that were gold plated costume jewellery, have bought from this store numerous times and no issue. Also I’ve worn the cheapest of the cheap earrings throughout my life and every type of metal.

Anyway these earrings I purchased the bar was quite thick, I stupidly pushed it in so it would fit. Was a bit uncomfortable but got on with my day, they seemed sore that evening so I removed them and haven’t worn them since.

Since then (Feb 2023) my piercings have been so irritated bleeding, discharge and sore etc. Went to the piercing shop and they advised no infection and gave me hypoallergenic earrings that cause sensitivity (titanium) and told me to keep the area clean for a few weeks.

Long story short, I ended up taking out the earrings two weeks ago as the irritation never stopped 5 months on. Still my piercing is a bit irritating one worse than the other, I clean it regularly etc. The guys in the piecing shop are shocked as to why this is acting up for so long especially when I had hypoallergenic earrings left in.

Anyway my question to you is that do you think this is UC related?? Is my body just painfully slow to heal wounds? It’s such a silly little problem I know but I miss my earrings SO SO much! I feel quite healthy in myself and UC seems under control. Also went to doc and they said they didn’t think it was infected as I would have alot of pain and be sick.

Any help would be appreciated 😊

Saloflak Granules daily
Probiotic morning x1
Infliximab infusion (every 6 weeks)

You might have to settle for clip on earrings. Since you love earrings, that's an alternative!
Posted 7/11/2023 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I rarely wear earrings anymore so when I do I always have to sorta punch through the holes again. They get a little sore, but then are fine in a couple days. Nothing like what you are describing.

The only time I had problems with a wound not healing was during my last severe flare when I had a cut on my leg that wouldn't heal. That's when I discovered I was severely anemic and needed blood and iron transfusions. Once that issue was addressed the cut healed.
Posted 7/11/2023 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your replies! I really hope they heal and I can re-pierce them! I miss earrings so much and the clip on variety just doesn’t cut it! Funny I had a section about a year ago and that wound healed pretty quickly and I was in the midst of a bit of a flare at that time! It’s really unfortunate as the piercings have been there all my life, it’s like they got irritated but just won’t clear up! They’ve advised me just to keep cleaning and have given an oil but I am afraid if I do get them re-pierced that my body may reject them. I presume it’s okay to get new piercings while on Infliximab? The guy that was dealing with me in the piercing shop was actually on immunosuppressants and had got a lot of piercings since, we must be the unlucky ones.

I’m trying to up my vitamin C and add in my probiotics hoping that might help with the healing. I have an appointment with my consultant this month so will definitely run it by them.
Posted 7/11/2023 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
It could have just been a freak thing too. People get piercings & tats while on the stronger meds

I would use an antibacterial ointment, use peroxide sparingly at this point.
Posted 7/11/2023 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you might have a minor infection? Maybe you scratched the skin while inserting the fatter earring. I would consult a GP rather than a piercing specialist...
Posted 7/12/2023 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
I had a similar ear piercing infection, my ear was already pierced but I hadn’t worn earrings in forever (it could have been the earring but who knows), I tried to treat it myself but after it was getting very warm and angry looking I finally went to my primary care dr who put me on oral antibiotics w an antibiotic ointment and it cleared up right away. Maybe the Crohn’s, maybe the medicine or immune system, I have noticed that some cuts take longer to heal but this time was def infected. I got paranoid about staph after that 😶 Once it cleared up though it was fine though and I can wear earrings again
Posted 7/12/2023 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
I guess the outer ear is more sensitive to pathogens than we realize-- until something attacks us there. In early June I injured the upper half of one ear colliding with a wooden nightstand at home. It still hasn't completely healed though I've applied Neosporin Pain Relief then a generic Mupirocin (Bactroban) ointment RXed by local urgent care center. Annoying and puzzling! Seems that the gooey antibiotic ointment impedes scab formation/drying/fall off-- so far. I can't explain the delayed healing otherwise. No fever, TG, so I'm trying to avoid ABX for the sake of King Colon. Not immuno-suppressed, therefore I initially expected complete healing in 2 weeks utmost, and here it is near mid-July still somewhat swollen & scabby below the curved rim of upper ear. (Ironically, I had a wonderful ENT who, alas, relocated to FL in 2022 and now can't get office visit with her successor 'til August.) / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)
Posted 7/12/2023 7:46 AM (GMT 0)
It’s such an unusual one! Interest to hear so many of your replies! I did go to the GP a while back and they prescribed a cream called Canesten (Clotrimazole 1% and Hydrocortisone 1%) I only put it on one piercing and that’s actually the piercing that’s more irritated now, the other ear seems to have cleared up a bit. The piercing shop were very against getting anything from the GP but like you guys said I feel at this stage surely it’s a minor infection how could irritation take this long to heal.
They said if it was an infection I would have alot of pain and it would be very hot and I wouldn’t feel well..I don’t have any pain at the moment I did initially!

Do you guys find anything helpful to boost your immune system while on immunosuppressants? I’ve asked my consultant numerous times and they just shrug it off. Apart from the obvious healthy diet etc!
Posted 7/12/2023 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
I had 2 dental roots removed 2 weeks ago in order for my bridge to work better. The healing of the roots has been terrible. I did develop dry socket but even still it is 2 weeks now and it still hurts bad eating down on that part of the gums and i do have a sense of occult blood in my mouth. I too was wondering whether this was a result of UC or drugs
Posted 7/12/2023 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I would go to a doctor to ask about an infection, not the piercing shop where you bought the earrings from. Why are they against you going to a doctor? They sound sketchy.
Posted 7/12/2023 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that Susie Far should pursue medical attention rather than piercing shop advice. If the GP doesn't help, surely a dermatologist or an ENT would know how to treat an external ear condition that lingers. The urgent care center did advise me to pursue attention from a doctor if Mupirocin ointment doesn't work. RE Charlie's problem: better to start a new thread on your dental issue because several other members on this forum would likely have experience dealing with that. / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal) *** P.S. Vitamin D3 is a reliable supplement for boosting the immune system; I take 1,000 units daily = 25 mcg. with my IBD gastro's blessing.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply