Piercings

[Ophelia1]

Is it common to have trouble with piercings when you have lupus? A year ago I was diagnosed with lupus, which appears to be mainly affecting my joints and muscles plus the fatigue, brain fog etc. In November, I noticed that my ear piercings (I have had pierced ears for 45 years and they have never given trouble before) were hot and painful . I took out my earrings and my ears calmed down. A few days later, I tried again, with the same effect. Since then I have tried periodically to insert earrings of all sorts i.e gold, titanium, silver etc and all have the same effect. Can this have something to do with autoimmunity?

[WinterSwimmer]

I cannot wear earrings any more. It has never occurred to me that this might be due to lupus but I had my ears pierced when I was 16 and have never had any trouble with the piercings until about 12 years ago. The holes get hot and inflamed and very painful. it clears up when you remove the jewelry. I was diagnosed in 2007.

[Pumpkin2009 in reply to WinterSwimmer]

Same here. After years and years, I developed scar tissue and that was the end of earrings. I decided it was somehow related to lupus and never mentioned it to the doctors compared to other problems, it was disappointing, but not crucial. I kept hoping it would change, but never did. Really glad you posted this.

Healing hugs.

[Krazykat26]

Yes Ophelia..me too!! 🤗I've had my ears pierced for years n just prior to my lupus diagnosis I'd had to remove my earrings coz my ears were inflamed n painful. I have managed to wear them again now I have a decent treatment plan..but I will say that when I'm starting to flare my earrings hurt!! 😹

Thanks for posting..I too hadn't really thought about it before 🤔🌈😽😽xx

[Lupuslymph]

Me too, i also wondered recently if my lupus was the reason! I couldnt find anything online, thank you for raising this! If i really want to wear them for an outing i have to slather cortisone cream to counteract the heat n swelling. Also i had my cartilage pierced twice and it just never healed and my body literally started to force it towards the ear edge to repel it, so i gave up! Also have a problem with certain surgical stiches too my wounds didnt heal and body repelled the stitches! Interesting!

[jackaboo]

I`m having the same problem at the moment. Dx 14 years ago have tried gold and silver earrings both playing my ears up, hot and inflamed didn`t link it too my lupus xx

[Aurali]

Hi all, I too have a problem with earrings. I am only able to wear silver earrings, if I wear gold my ears immediately get inflamed and sore but never connected this with lupus so thank you 😊 xx

[Barbara17]

Hello. Yes, I’ve had problems with earrings too and it took me ages to realise it was due to my lupus! However, like KK, I can now wear earrings for a short time if I’m not in flare. The other thing I do now is include my ears while slathering on the sunscreen every day!

[Hamptons]

Yes, I couldn’t wear earrings for several years. Can now. Don’t know what was different.

[Olderkitten]

This is really odd because I haven't worn earrings for a few years now and I never related it to this miserable disease. I hope I can remember to ask my rheumatologist about it.