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Conditions

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradentitis suppurativa in the armpit

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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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





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we can help ourselves by information gathering and sharing http://www.ba-hs.org.uk





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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





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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





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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.





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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 ??





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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.





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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.





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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





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Is there any special treatment for HS. It is destroying a memeber of my families life and there does not seem to be an end to it. The numerous operations and courses of antibiotics seem like a primitive form of treatment.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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