- For over ten years I lived with painful nodules around my inner thighs, groin and buttocks.
- When I finally went to a dermatologist, I was diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa.
- There is no cure for this chronic inflammatory skin disease, but treatment can reduce symptoms and pain.
I always called them “my bumpy”. At the age of 13, these painful nodules began to develop patches on the skin around my inner thighs, groin and buttocks. believe me when i say it won’t Them area.
A few years later, “my bump” disappeared. I was his 19-year-old naively thinking that graduating from adolescence and becoming an adult liberated myself. When they got their revenge at 22, I felt completely defeated.
Your 20s are supposed to be carefree, but these nasty bumps made me feel dirty and disgusting. self-esteem plummetedWith thighs rubbing together in the wrong direction, or worse, an abscess bursting in public, the simple act of walking can become painful. did. I didn’t want anyone to see my bump.
When I finally worked up the courage to overcome my deep-seated shyness and tell a close friend about it, she suggested that I see a dermatologist. It helped me regain my confidence.
I regained my confidence through diagnosis and treatment
The dermatologist said, “Your symptoms are hidradenitis suppurativa“She said the jumble of syllables rolled off her tongue so easily,” or HS, for short.
The abbreviation sounded like a sexually transmitted disease to me, but I was quickly reassured that it was a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It affects an estimated 1 to 4% of the US populationWhen Women are three times more likely than men have it It does not indicate poor hygiene and is not contagious. It disappears and recurs throughout life.that is Commonly Misdiagnosed Conditionsand because of the embarrassing areas it can pop up, HS is often undiagnosed.
I was stunned. It turns out in 10 seconds that I have been worried for over 10 years.
“There is no cure,” she said, leaving me disappointed until she added.
I got corticosteroid injections on the spot – pun intended – I am now seeking treatment for a debilitating flare-up. Along with mycin, I was told to start using Hibiclen, an antiseptic skin cleanser, on the affected area two to three times a week.
Beyond medication, I changed my lifestyle. When exercising, I wear sweat-wicking and quick-drying material that minimizes skin friction. Low impact exercises tend to be more friendly to my HS. If that’s not possible, bring a change of clothes into clean, dry clothes to reduce the amount of time the flare-up area is exposed to sweat.
The American Academy of Dermatology says research suggests Weight loss and dietary changes can help reduce HS symptoms, but I’ve lost and gained weight and played with diets without seeing much difference in the way HS presents itself. For now, I have learned what works for me. If anything changes, I know my dermatology team can help.
happier and healthier me
I know I have to live with HS until a cure is found. I can live my life without it. The more painful stages of HSwhich makes the occasional bad flare-up less tragic.
I now talk more freely about my HS with friends and family. Because I don’t want others to feel what I’ve been feeling for years. Getting a diagnosis and planning a treatment changed my life forever. So did my supportive partner who loved me and “my bump”.
