Conditions
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
With a name like Hidradenitis suppurativa, it’s perhaps not immediately obvious what kind of condition we’re going to tell you about. However, if you take a moment to look up “suppuration” in the dictionary, you’ll discover that it means “the formation or discharge of pus”, which should start to give you an idea. Hidradenitis is a chronic and stubborn skin disease centred on inflammation of the large specialised sweat glands (apocrine glands) that are found mainly in the armpits and groin area. These areas show a distinctive mixture of boil-like lumps, areas leaking pus, and scarring, which can be itchy, but usually painful, and the lumps hurt if they are pressed. Aside from the pain and unpleasantness of the condition, it can also be embarrassing and unsightly. There are possibly over 100,000 sufferers in the UK alone with this condition, which can be difficult to treat, although there are a number of treatments that can be tried including medications and surgery.
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Im 28yrs old and have suffered since i was 14. I now seem to have it under control. I first went to see a chinese doctor and whatever i was given worked when things were really bad. Now i take Lymecycline and things are not looking too bad at all. I will never be able to dance with my hands up in the air exposing my armpits or be able to expose my butt and a nice swimming cossy but im lump and boil free(ish) and alot happier for it. Good luck my fello sufferers.
hi i am 23 and have suffered with hs for about 7 years. however only been diagnosed for around 4 years. it is totally distroying my life. currently i have flare ups around every 3 weeks which are leaving me unable to walk as they are mostly situated in my groin area.after years of a struggle with doctors and dermatologists i finally have another appointment this week, fingers crossed though as they are often a waste of my time and i have tried anti biotics and every cream under the sun. anyone know any sort of treatment which might work that i can ask for when i go back? x
I currently take Lymecycline and to be honest it seems to be doing the job. I now dont get a outbreak i will get a boil every now and then. I have 2 a day and have been doing so for almost a year. Hopefully you havent aleady tried these tablets and they do for you what they have done for me. To be honest i also went to see the chinese doctor when things where really bad and whatever i was given there (just before i began taking Lymecycline) was what set me on my road to recovery. All the best.
Hi I am also a sufferer and have been for 15 years I have tried many different treatments including long spells of antibiotics. I have found that taking a good quality zinc supplement and Vitamin A have helped. I use Hibiscrub antibacterial body wash and never any form of soaps or shower gels and also on flare ups witch hazel and teatree oil help when applied to the boils.
we can help ourselves by information gathering and sharing http://www.ba-hs.org.uk
Hi,I'm 45 and have had HS now for 7-8yrs, it's very bad under my armpit's & under my breast's, it's also left me brusing down below, when it's really bad it smell's bad and that's embarrissing and I cannot use deodorant, I'm using a lot of body spray instead, at the moment the doctor's put me on Erythromycin 250mg 28 tablets which has stopped the pus, he's given me two boxes, he's asked me to go back in two weeks time which is next week, I would like to stay on these tablet's permantly is this possible as they've worked really well but I'm also on other medication
I have already commented earlier but one of the things i forgot to mention was that I now use a natural crystal stick deodorant and not any other form of deodorant. These really work and leave you completely odour free incase anyone is concerned about their abilities, but the main thing is that since i have used this (two months)i have not had one boil under my armpits unfortunately the same cannot be said for my groin area and bum but I am working on it!
Ive had this for quite a few years now its in between my breasts i have got quite a big scar it gets really itchy and sore sometimes i cant lie on my stomach because it can be that sore i have a lump underneath the skin and can get another on top of the skin it goes all pussey they burst and come back again. i have been to my GP and he didnt know what it was could you help me please because i dont know what it is and how to treat it thanks
I am a 49 year old who has suffered with HS since the age of 14/15. I was only diagnosed 4 years ago after a particularly bad attack which resulted in me being admitted to hospital for an operation. It has been debilitating over the years and extremely embarrassing. I have been left with unsightly scars under my arms & have been unable to wear nice sleeveless tops & dresses etc. Holidays have always been a nightmare! I now find myself going through the beginning of the menopause and all my problems seem to have reduced to nothing. Not good news for the ladies but has made a huge difference and my confidence is returning. I also have tried all the antibiotics known to man which have worked some of the time but not always. Keep pestering your doctors otherwise they will do nothing.
I have posted on this subject many times since this was first aired on E.I but despite suffering this condition for more than thirty years and having 14 surgeries and two bad experiences with septaceamia nothing has worked at all. I'm sick of the sight of antibiotics which make me feel lousy anyway. I honestly thought that this condition may rectify itself when I hit menopause. I am 56 years old. With the commencement of the menopause my condition has deteriorated . Its worse now than it has been for years and believe me I've had some appalling and agonising times over the years. I'm fed up of hearing people saying that "my doctor said it was hormonal ,it occurs in women ,it occurs by ingrowing hairs ,its caused my over-active sweat glands ,its caused by blocked sweat glands bla bla bla" . The facts are simple ...nobody knows the actual cause and theres is no known cure. There were many many posts on this site previously before its update regarding this illness and their were even small babies mentioned on this site that suffered from this condition ...so that disperses the "hairy" explanation and the hormonal one. Also , I'm fed up of hearing that its all to do with the menstrual cycle . If thats the case then how come the case shown on E.I was a guy (see pic of his armpit above) and how come men also suffer from this illness. It knows no age barrier . Nor is it confined to one particular sex. Its high time more money was spent on research into this disease because in most cases it is there for life. Until they boffins find the cause there can be no cure . Many people are loathe to seek help for this because they find it both embarrassing and debilitating. I just wonder how many more suffers there are who have not yet come forward.
Hi I have these lumps under my arms I am currently 37 weeks pregnant, they are more like scars now in the process of healing does anyone know if you can still breast feed with them? As I would really like to breast feed my daughter but am not sure if you are passing any infection over to the baby ??
i have had them for many years now and i breast fed my daughter with no problems,if your on medicine for them jus double check with your midwife x
hi emma i have suffered wiv hs now for bout 13yrs i have it in my groin only now as i had a major op to have all the skin removed and both armpits eveacuated.i have a 4 yr old daughter an i didnt have any problems with breast feeding at all.my doctor told me that it wouldnt affect my milk ducts so i could breast feed,an my armpits were really bad.i hope this helps you congrats an good luck xx
Im only 16 and I started getting them when I was around twelve, i was so afraid to tell anyone, especially my family. But now that I know what it is hopefully i can get treatment and i will be okay.
I have had HS for 10 years. I have been to see my doctor who reffered me to see a dermatoligist. I have tried every antibiotic given to me including flucluxcilin and everything I tried didnt work. The dermatoligist told me there was nothing else she could do for me, and just told me they where acne. I am going back to see my doctor a week on Wednesday to ask to be sent back to see the dermatoligist again, fingers crossed there do something for me this time.
Hi, i'm 25 year old female and in the past year i have noticed that i have been getting boils/lumps in my groin area. They start out as raised, red spots and can last upto 1-2 weeks and are very sensitive to touch. After they clear up, new ones seem to appear, sometimes in the same area, or areas which they haven't as yet. I was wondering if there is anything that i could get at Boots/Pharmacy to help clear this up without having to see a doctor
hi the only things i was told you could get over the counter or at health shops is zinc tablets as they say hs is caused by a lack of iron in the system.I used to have them in my armpits an since i had a major op to have them removed i havent had any more come back (thank god lol) but mine was very serious.I still have quite a few reccuring ones around the front an back of my groin an new ones poppin up alot.I have found as have many that they flare up normally a week or so before your period do you have that problem to?? I would say go to doctors an get them checked as if they start to tunnel an conjoin together it can lead in to major surgery like mine will have to be soon worse luck.If they are only small areas then some pills the doc can give yo may clear it up.im sorry i cant give you a cure for it but if i can find anything else that may help i will get in touch.good luck
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