Not an actual patient or healthcare provider.
GET TO THE RIGHT
DERMATOLOGIST
HS may affect about 1 of every 100 people—that's as common as celiac disease, Graves' disease, and spondylitis. HS may be a little-known condition, but that doesn't mean you can't expect the care you deserve.
HS symptoms can be mistaken for cystic acne, inflamed hair follicles (folliculitis), infected hair follicles (such as an ingrown hair), or a sexually transmitted disease.
On average, it has taken people 10 years and seeing 4 doctors for their symptoms to be recognized as HS. It's important to work with a dermatologist who has seen HS symptoms before.
Many people experience a long path toward the right diagnosis. See what the journey could be like.
Dermatologists (healthcare providers specializing in treating skin conditions) who have experience with HS will be better prepared to diagnose and treat HS for you.
Does your dermatologist know HS? You're welcome to ask your provider if they have experience with HS before you schedule an appointment.
GET THE RIGHT
DIAGNOSIS
The path to an HS diagnosis isn't always easy. At this point, you may have already heard multiple diagnoses from multiple doctors.
I've had HS since I was 12, but I didn't know the name of it for years. I was seeing several doctors and dermatologists, but I don't think they knew what HS was.
— Carmelo M., living with HS
As you share your concerns and feelings with your doctor, you may need to bring up HS.
Learning how to pronounce the full name of HS may be easier than you think. Try following this video to practice:
SHINE A LIGHT ON
THE JOURNEY
LIGHTBULB MOMENT
Many people living with HS experienced a long path toward the right diagnosis.
See what that journey looks like for someone learning about HS. As you follow along with their progress, think about where you are on your own journey. It may feel like you can't find the answers you're looking for, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Not an actual patient.
A painful, mysterious bump appears ... but you don't know that it's HS. You poke around online for tips on healing your skin.
Not an actual patient.
As more symptoms appear, you research at home and try what you've heard works for others.
Not an actual patient.
You see your primary care physician and leave the appointment with the same information you had. It's time to see a dermatologist.
You explain your painful symptoms to the dermatologist. In 15 minutes, you're told a long list of possible causes with no real answers.
Not an actual patient.
You start tracking your symptoms with photos and journal entries. After researching, you come across something called "HS" and make an appointment with a dermatologist who has experience with treating and diagnosing it, an HS specialist.
Not an actual patient.
You share your symptoms with an HS specialist and talk about how they're impacting your life. Finally, you're diagnosed with HS.
FIND YOUR
HS SPECIALIST
Not all dermatologists have experience with HS. Find a specialist who does.
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