When Mr. Ed Bradley of CBS 60 Minutes came out with an earring, I remember saying to myself, “Way Papa! In a matter of years every cat and dog will have one…” After all, if that distinguished black journalist had taken the plunge, who was I not to consider getting one in order to be ‘with it?’ Most cultures from time immemorial have practiced some form of piercing. Evidently, as a popular fashion statement, while earrings are charming on women, cool on men, on the medical side, I was observing that it was not without complication.
For the vast majority, their choice today is simply whether to sparkle with bling or wear something natural like wood or shell. However, a fraction of the population will develop unsightly and uncomfortable growing flesh from ear piercing or other trivial trauma to the skin. (In some other countries, it is often referred to as ‘proud flesh,’ but the proper medical term is keloid). Though it occurs in whites, it is more common in darker races, most prevalent in blacks. Like many other conditions, it tends to run in families. Even today, scientists do not fully understand the process. However, they speculate that cells involved in repair of wounds somehow miscommunicate, producing excess collagen and scar tissue.
Regardless of the skill of the surgeon, some incisions heal beautifully while others form a much thickened, hypertrophic scar. A simple hypertrophic scar however, remains within margins of the incision, but a keloid spreads beyond, growing like there is no tomorrow. And you cannot tell for sure who is going to get a keloid. Some people have gotten both ears pierced; keloid formed on one side and not on the other. It can result from something simple as a scratch, scabies, pimple or chicken pox scar, often on the breast or chest. Even the tiny pricking of the tattoo needle is known to get it going. Just this week, a well-shaved businessman who never gets razor bumps showed me some keloid-type reaction where the barber shaped-up the back of his head.
Can you recall when you first saw someone with a growing flesh? For me as a child, it looked so soft and jiggly and probably fun to play with. But for the keloid sufferer, this is no laughing matter. It itches, it aches; it gets in the way. If they manage to get earrings on, they are doomed to an eternity of clip-ons. Strangers see their keloids before seeing them as a person – very annoying.
I am still researching the matter, but I have been told that experienced midwives would advised certain mothers not to pierce their new-born daughters’ ears based on abnormal healing of the navel. However, because of peer pressure, they grow up and join the crowd. They may have no problem the first time or two, but like a vampire getting its first taste of blood, many admit that once they start, they feel they cannot stop. After the earlobe comes the top of the ear, the eyebrow, the nose, the lip, the tongue – and other regions further down. One patient even quoted that Jesus was pierced for our iniquities so now he had to keep getting piercings…
Whatever!
Just cut the growing flesh then; that shouldn’t be too complicated. Well, except that when you do, more often than not, it comes back bigger than before. There is not much one can do to prevent it from growing. Injecting with steroids is somewhat effective in flattening hypertrophic scars and smaller keloids, but these injections tend to be more painful than normal. A keloid is obviously not cancer, but injecting it with certain chemotherapy drugs helps (Fluorouracil, Interferon). Doctors have also used silicone sheets, as well as laser and radiation therapy. But guess what? Yes, it recurs and then additional expensive treatments are needed oftentimes within a year.
The good news is that like torn earlobes (often resulting from large hoop earrings), there is hope with simple procedures now performed right in your doctor’s office. Cryotherapy, or freezing the keloid with liquid nitrogen, has recently shown exciting promise. It is relatively quick, painless and inexpensive compared to the other treatments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Growing flesh is a nuisance nobody deserves. Advances in medical science may one day make this a thing of the past. For many already, that day has already come.
Dr. Sam Christian is an American-trained surgeon who runs the newly-opened Urgent Care at 137 Bath Road in Roseau. He is author of Mannafast Miracle, a breakthrough faith and fitness book based on his management of a patient who lost 1000 pounds and was featured on Discovery Channel. Dr. Christian can be reached at 440-9133 / 613-8345 or [email protected]
Always so brilliant and informative. Thanks Dr Sam, keep the articles coming.
Dr. Christian your are my rendez-vous on DNO on week-ends. This is another masterpiece.You never cease to impress me. I learn quite a lot by reading your articles. Keep up the good work.And I understand that you do do some of these surgeries right here in Dominica at your office. May God bless you as continue to help our people in the field of medecine.
Doctor, when baby girls ears were pierced, the custom was to wear gold earrings and not costume jewelry. Wearing the latter could cause infection. During the healing process, the ears must be properly taken care of until it heals.
Some of those who have had their ears, mouth and lips pierced may have used costume jewelry and not gold ones which caused infection and other ailment. Instruments are not often sterilized.
I detest seeing people with pierced lips and with jewelry be it on TV or in person. It is a bit upsetting especially if they are in front of me. It is not a good picture to view.
We reside in an era that people do all sorts of things to their faces and bodies. This is called mutilation. They think it is hype and modern. The lips, upper ears, mouth, eye brows and wherever unnatural areas should never be pierced. Should these have growing flesh, I would view it as a punishment. However, there are some people who have natural growing flesh. If it were possible, prior to piercing those areas, a test of the blood and skin could be conducted to determine whether they have growing flesh. I suppose this may be what your research is all about. Good luck!
I remember I was about 9 when I got my ears pierced with a sharpened “zalen Pawasol” and ice behind it. I developed a small one but it disappeared on its own.
Another educational piece Dr.Sam, thank you! Though I do not have this keloids, or “Growing Flesh” I have seen it on many a people. Moreso, I’ve seen many people, both on the ears and other parts of the body, especially women who have had surgery, where the cut heals with really large growing flesh, as you rightly said, where it get cut and regrow, I can imagine how annoying this can be for those affected by this growing flesh. I pray that you’ll be very successful in your research, and bring total healing to others.
If this modern way of treating keloids is so easy, how come they cannot do it in Dominica. This article doesn’t tell me where I can go exactly to find help for my keloids?
Dr. Christian himself can do it at his office.Check his address and number below his article.