HS

[lauren814]

Hello. My name is Lauren. I am 17 years old. And I've had HS for about, 6 or 7 years. My only affected area is in my under arms. I once had a flare and had to get it drained, that wasn't a very good experience
Having HS really made me self-conscious about myself, especially when exposing that area.
I have been looking into some remedies for it, but havent found one.
I saw somewhere that they said to try acne treatments. Has anyone tried it?

It would be really appreciated if you have any suggestions.
Maybe to help when there is a flare.
That would be greatly appreciated
Also, just for someone to help me out with it and talk, I would like it.
I havent met anyone that has it, but seeing that there are people who know what i am going through, kind of helps me out
Talk to you soon.

[itchychick]

Welcome to the forum, Lauren.

I don't have HS, but there are lots of people here who are happy to chat when you need to.

[gfpaperdoll]

Hi Lauren, Have you read my thread on the gluten free diet.  It is down a few posts - titled introducing myself...  I hightly recommend that you try the diet.  You might also need to give up dairy - at least in the beginning.  Let me know if you would like to discuss it.  A lot of people are getting relief from the boils in from 4 to 6 weeks on the diet. 

Let me know if you want some help.  Are you still living at home?  do you have any other health issues - however small & unconnected that they might seem.  Does anyone in your family have any autoimmune illnesses?

have you suffered from depression?  Your parents & depression?  Anyone that has a gluten problem will be depressed on a certain level & the meds will do nothing...

wishing you the best
jeanne 

[aenigma20]

Hi Lauren, I'm glad you found your way here, there is a great deal of knowledge and support here.  I too have HS, although I pretty much consider mine in remission.    For me what worked is reducing the number of menses (periods) I have each year by taking a birth control called Seasonique which is a 3-month pill giving you only 4 menses a year, this also help regulate my hormones.  I also got laser hair removal in the affected region.  I've gone from 60 nodules a month to 1 or 2 every 6 months.  My quality of life has improved drastically, I get so much out of the simplest things like being outdoors on a sunny Arizona day.  I'm still stuck with scars, but I'm not in pain.  The thing that helps me most when the flairs up do happen is to get boil cream, it's benzocaine (the stuff in tooth numbing gel) but in a cream format that you can rub on your skin.  I have the other things listed that helped me out on my laser hair removal journal website.  http://aenigma20.blogspot.com/

Different people have different responses to each treatment option, and some people have found little relief.  My advice to you is don't give up, keep trying different things, if one thing doesn't work something else might, keep you head up.

I am also a strong advocator of arming yourself with all the knowledge you can about your disease.  The best place to gain knowledge on the topic is in medical studies and articles.  Here is a link to a website that you can get access to thousands of medical documents  on Hidradentis Suppurativa. http://www.hs-foundation.org/research/database.htm  Take some of these with you to your next dr. appointment so you can both make and infomed and educated decisions about what to try next.

Wishing you HS free days ,
Aenigma

[MIGHTY]

After years of ruining my natural immune system with useless antibiotics, I urge you NOT to take them. HS is NOT a disease that can be treated by antibiotics and its often prescribed by ignorant doctors. I found an HS SPECIALIST(!!!) on www.hs-foundation.org who knew EXACTLY what I am going thru and how to treat it.

May I suggest Kenalog injections for immediate relief during flare ups. It is amazing and works within 24 hours. I filled out paperwork today to start taking Humira as a long term deterrant, I'll log on and update you in the success of that.

On a side note: Do you have any arthritis type joint pain issues? Found out today that mine are most likely related to my HS!

[itchychick]

I don't have HS, but I wanted to add that Kenalog is a relatively potent injected steroid.  I have had several injections into stubborn patches of nummular eczema, and it truly does work within a day or two.  The only caution is that too much(ie, too large a dose, or an inaccurate injection) can cause a permanent pitting in the skin.

Glad you found some help Mighty