Ulcerative colitis is a disease that needs life long treatment.  While on treatment also they can have relapse.  There are certain extraintestinal manifestations which are related or unrelated to activity of the disease.  Active disease needs steroid treatment for induction of remission. Acne or boil is common while on steroids.  If otherwise,  disease activity needs to be assessed - clinically,  endoscopically and histologically.