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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I made a post on here a couple of months or so ago. I didnt realise i had this util i'd seen the programme-never been to my doctor about it as there isnt much he will do! It is no-where as bad as it used to be but used to get quite painful just before i was due on. i just thought i'd let you know that i started taking tumeric tablets (can get them from health food shops) your supposed to take 2 a day but i only take 1-I was quite sceptical about them but i cant tell you what a difference they have made! I still have white/blackheads but i dont get the horrible painful boils anymore, i've had a couple of very small ones that cleared up in no time. Give it a go, it could very well work for you. Good luck!
hi my name is kelly ive had them for about 20 years they first started on the in sides of my legs moved to my boob and belly and then underarm i lived in the usa for 5 years and they didnt even know what to dofor me back in the uk im now waiting to go see some one else about them so we will c what the next dr has to say about them.
why do GPs not refer people to specialists? should GPs realise they should get help for their patients? too many people are not getting proper help. i dont understand what is wrong here?
hi, I have been embaressed since my mid teens, with the flare ups and no one could tell me why, I am now 38 and couple of years ago watched the program and it was such a relief to see that it was an actual problem. Went to gp's and said had seen the prog and straight away he agreed and put me on a long term anti biotic. they did help to ease them, but recently they are flaring up again and are not only very unslightly but they are painful and flare up in the groin is now affecting sex life. Any advice would be grateful, because my gps are not sure what is best so jsut keep giving me a repeat prescription.
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!
Thanks for your comment. Could you please tell me where I can find this natural crystal stick deodorant?
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.
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