DRIVER'S SEAT
- UNDERSTANDING HS

Healthcare provider with stethoscope is looking toward her computer.

UNDERSTANDING
HS

Not an actual healthcare provider.

WHAT IS HS?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition.

In HS, it is thought that an overactive immune system may contribute to too much inflammation in the body, mostly around hair follicles and sweat glands
HS causes painful bumps, boils, and nodules
Bumps can lead to sores (or abscesses) that can leak and may leave scars
Symptoms usually begin at puberty and can affect anyone

HS is chronic, meaning it's a long-lasting condition with symptoms that come and go, called flares. It can be a physically draining, frustrating, and painful process.

Ready to get proactive about symptoms?

TRY THIS ACTIVITY

THE ROLE OF
THE
IMMUNE SYSTEM

HS isn't caused by sweat, skin care products, or personal cleanliness. HS is a systemic inflammatory skin condition.

The exact cause of HS is still being studied. But it is believed that an overactive immune system contributes to inflammation throughout the body, called systemic inflammation, mostly affecting the skin.

Areas of the body where skin meets skin and rubs together are at risk for HS inflammation:

Where you might find HS: ears, back of the neck, armpits, under the breasts, groin area, buttocks, and inner thighs.

The proposed sequence of events is that first, inflammation often targets a hair follicle, causing it to become blocked.

Next, the immune system attacks the blocked hair follicle, which can cause it to rupture and release the bacteria trapped inside, continuing the immune system's attack.

This believed overactivation of the immune system can also target other hair follicles, starting the cycle of flares all over again, leading to painful bumps (or nodules), abscesses, and scarring.

MANAGING SYMPTOMS

It's important to tell your doctor about all of the symptoms you are experiencing. When you think about long-term goals for treating HS, consider having a goal of reducing symptoms. You and your doctor can discuss management options that may work for you.

During an HS flare, bumps and boils can return and become sores that rupture. Sores that have ruptured can connect to each other under the skin, forming deep tunnels that can lead to extensive scarring.

SHINE A LIGHT ON
THE ROAD AHEAD

Take a minute to reflect on the questions below to see HS in a new light.

LIGHTBULB MOMENT

1. Are you experiencing symptoms similar to HS? Make a note or take a photo of any pimple-like breakouts, painful boils, or nodules in areas where skin rubs together.
2. How are you currently managing those symptoms? Are those strategies working for you? If you're still wishing for relief from symptoms, consider that your approach may not be doing enough for you.
3. How do you picture your life with fewer HS symptoms? If your symptoms started improving tomorrow, imagine what would change for you physically and emotionally.
4. What's keeping you from working toward that idea? Consider whether you're using phrases about living with HS that aren't helping you. If your mind is shutting down the possibility of relief from HS symptoms, it's time to reframe your thinking.

Fighting for the right diagnosis and seeking a helpful treatment can drain your motivation completely. Instead of giving up hope and thinking, No one has helped me figure this out, think, No one has helped me figure this out YET. There's power in the hope of "yet."
5. What's stopping you from talking to your dermatologist? Sure, it sounds easy to quickly schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. But going through a frustrating appointment can make it hard to look forward to the next appointment. Continue to pursue the answers you deserve and a treatment that works for you. Find tips on talking with the RIGHT dermatologist in the next section of this guide.

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SEE HS, NOT
JUST
SYMPTOMS

HS is an inflammatory disease that can affect different areas of the body, yet many medications treat only the skin symptoms, not what may be happening within your body.

Treating HS early can reduce flares, and earlier diagnosis may help reduce the need for further surgery.