Does this look like Chrohn's disease?

[reb]

Do these pictures look like typical external manifestations of chrohn's disease or is it something else?

They usually come after a scratch on the skin or when a hair root gets infected - for example due to shaving. The bump gets inflamed and gradually becomes darker. When it heals, it leaves a discolored round scar that looks as though the skin on the scar has been dissolved. The skin on the scar is thin and sinks slightly into the flesh.

The picture on the bottom shows sores on the back and the one in the middle shows a sore that has only been growing for a few weeks. The top one shows the scars and another sore that has been around for a while.

At first I thought that it was some kind of MRSA infection - but then it has been going on for years and the inflamed bumps usually develop over longer periods of time (a bump can stay inflamed for several months). However if they are scratched or otherwise disturbed, they easily become infected and form a sore.

What could this be?

 

[allieinwonder]

I am not currently diagnosed, but I get the same issues. Lately, every time I get a cut it turns into a nasty scar, and usually gets infected, no matter how clean I keep it or how much neosporin I use. Its really frustrating because I just keep getting more and more scars from minor accidents!

 

[David]

I'm guessing it is indeed related to your IBD but showing that to your doctor would be a good idea.

The thing is, one of the biggest issues with IBD like Crohn's is it so often leads to malabsorption of essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, etc.

I don't know which would cause specific issues like that, but if you google scholar search for "vitamin deficiency poor wound healing" or "mineral deficiency poor wound healing" lots of interesting articles come up.

The most interesting ones to me on a cursory glance are vitamin C and essential fatty acids.