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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.

Comments

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I have been wondering what this hideousness is under my arms for the past few years. I went to my docs when i had my very first boil under there as i was really worried but because i am over weight (i am doing something about it seriously now) he just treated me like scum. After seeing the pictures and reading the comments its nice to see im not the only 'freak' i will try the soap and other tips thanks

Hi I placed a comment on the site a few weeks ago I have had the condition for a 16 years and have just finished 4 weeks worth of flucluxocilin I wondered if there were any better anti biotics or is everyone just given fluclox I would also like to point out that I shower every day and was advised by a doctor sometime ago that it hasd nothing to do with cleanliness its just down to the type of skin you have I am sooo fed up with the flucluxocillin tabs and I know that when I go back to the doctors this week as its is flaring up again dispite the tablets they will give me more,also I dont have a lot of dairy stuff and also have not eaten meat for 20 years and fish for 8 years so I dont know about the dietry side of things

I have been suffering from this condition for a number of years since 18 years of age. Unfortunately as I was also being treated for kidney problems at the time of the on-set, the consultant told me that I was not being clean enough and that I should wash myself more often! How humiliating! I wash twice daily and found this condition to totally upset and destroy my relationships and sex life. I have had to have a number of operations in both sides of my groin and most recently in my armpits. The scarring is dreadful and unsightly. Any notion of a brazilian is out of the question! It is resistant to all antibiotics and creams I have been given and I have been told previously how "disgusting" I am (which is how HS makes you feel in any event). More should be done to try and make people aware of this condition so we are not treated as "dirty". I have received little or no help or support from medical professionals I have approached and even the dermatology department in hospital has been incredibly blasé about it. Very upsetting and honestly life altering. I can only hope and pray that something is found to help us soon.

Hi. im 19 and have had this condition for 9 months. ive had 14 abcesses and am currently on stage three of the condition. Ive had surgery and medication. Surgery helped but the medication has worked amazingly..i had to have it for eight weeks but since then (2months ago) ive not had any. Im sorry but i cant remember the medication but if you can get some information from the internet and go to your doctors then he can give you it. Thats what i did and its really helped. I honelsty treid everything and was back and forth at my doctors for 3 months and then throughout the 9 months i had it until i took in some information…please try as i would reccomend it.

Hi, Ive suffered with HS since having my first child 3 years ago. I was diognosed with it 2years ago.

My doctor recommended using Hiby scrub (the scrub used by surgeons). It can be brought over the counter for £7.99 & providing you use it daily it does make a big difference.

I have had this condition in the groin area for about 25 years. I have found that a good skin scrub daily works well for me. I have also discovered that any rubbing from underwear etc will trigger an outbreak. I have fewer outbreaks when I have lost weight as my thighs rubbing together appears to be a trigger. I have found that control underwear prevents this rubbing particularly when it is very hot.

I think i have this ive had it 4 nealy 8 yrs since my 1st child was born. Ive been 2 my docs repeatedly n they just say it coz im ova weight so i dont get any where. This last wk it as got worse i normaly av a couple each mnth but this last wk ive ad 7 n 1s just burst n im left with a hole the size of a 5p on my stomak with blud etc. I dont kno where 2 turn i am losin weight. wot can i do?

I have had hs for about 19 years now in my arm pits and groin area, I was very upset at the state of david featured in the program, under correct supervision of a proper dermatologist he should never had got in that state. I had both armpits removed 2 years ago, it was painless, a little messy for a couple of weeks but that was it. I have NOT suffered one single boil since and feel like a new person and would recommend it to everyone with the condition, my groin however is untreatable but like the above use acne washes and treatments to keep in under control, please get in touch with your skin specialist and get the armpit removal, it has changed my life completely for the better. good luck

I started with this after giving birth to my first child (now aged 32) my youngest daughter has had it for the last 10yrs(She is age 30yrs now)and now my eldest daughter has it. My eldest daughter is the first to be diagnosed as having this although myself and my younger daughter know that is what we have had all this time but didn't have a name for it till now until the eldest was diagnosed. There appears to be a genetic link in our family. Although I must say mine has not ben as deliberating as either of my daughters even though it has been painful. Mine seems to have cleared up since the menopause. So it also seems that hormones have a lot to do with this condition. I agree more research HAS to be done into this. So everyone should write to the health secetary or the goverment and demand more research into it.

i have SUFFERED with this condition since i was 12 i im now 31, i would love to know if anyone has had it and now cured… they have offered me surgery but after reading this im not sure if i want it if it just keeps on coming back, it is so embarrassing but reasurring that i am not the only one, i will try dettol soap and cutting dairy out of my diet as someone suggested, please help me it is affecting every aspects of my life from wanting to go swimming to my husband not sleeping in the same bed because it smells and i stick to the covers and wake up crying when i try to peel it off. thanks to you all for making me feel better about myself and hope someone will have a solution for me…....




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