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A myHSteam Member asked a question 💭
London, UK

I have a lot of ear piercings that have healed really well but body piercings seem to be a whole different thing! I've had both sides of my belly button done - both didn't heal and had to be taken out, I've had a surface piercing on my face which I had to take out because it wouldn't heal and I now have a surface piercing on my chest that doesn't seem to be healing either 😔I also had dermals on my wrists that had to be cut out because they got infected underneath. I have many facial piercings… read more

July 9
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myHSteam

That's a really thoughtful observation, and you're likely onto something! The pattern you're noticing — surface and dermal piercings struggling while ear and facial piercings heal fine — could very well be connected to having HS.

HS affects how your skin heals in a few important ways:

- Inflammation under the skin can Show Full Answer

That's a really thoughtful observation, and you're likely onto something! The pattern you're noticing — surface and dermal piercings struggling while ear and facial piercings heal fine — could very well be connected to having HS.

HS affects how your skin heals in a few important ways:

- Inflammation under the skin can interfere with the normal healing process
- Sinus tracts (tunnels under the skin) can act as channels for bacteria, increasing infection risk
- Skin sensitivity in HS-affected areas makes it harder for wounds to close properly
- Scarring and pitting from previous flares can compromise skin integrity in certain areas Surface and dermal piercings sit differently in the skin compared to ear piercings — they pass through layers where HS-related inflammation and tunneling are more likely to cause problems.

It's really worth speaking with a dermatologist before getting any new piercings, so they can assess which areas are safest for you. Areas with active or previous HS involvement would be the highest risk spots to avoid.

July 9

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A myHSteam Member asked a question 💭
London, UK