5 Hidradenitis Suppurativa Skin Tips to Relieve HS Symptoms - Self

For the 1 in 100 people in the U.S. living with hidradenitis suppurativa¹, dealing with the condition's characteristic deep, painful lumps really affects their quality of life. Sometimes, hidradenitis suppurativa lesions can break open and leak blood, pus, and other odorous fluids, and your skin can be more sensitive when this happens². These sores usually appear in your armpits and groin, so shaving or even just sweating can irritate your skin during a flare-up. That's why it's important to be careful about how you treat your skin if you have hidradenitis suppurativa.

Generally, people rely on prescription medications, including topical antibiotics, steroid injections, hormonal pills, and biologics to treat and manage hidradenitis suppurativa. (Keep in mind that your treatment options may change over time based on new research and newly available therapies. Make sure you have ongoing conversations with your doctor about which treatment options may be best for you.)

In conjunction with your dermatologist-prescribed treatment plan, doing your best to treat your skin as gently as possible can help you feel better during a flare-up and possibly avoid getting an infection. SELF asked dermatologists for their advice on how you can best care for your skin on hidradenitis suppurativa. Here's what they said:

1. Consider using an acne cleanser on your lesions.

Hidradenitis suppurativa isn't caused by an infection or because you don't clean your skin well enough. But you can develop an infection if bacteria gets into your open sores, according to Sonal Choudhary³, M.D., dermatologist and dermatopathologist at the University of Pittsburgh department of dermatology. Using an antibacterial wash on your lesions that helps kill bacteria can help prevent that from happening, Dr. Choudhary explains. "When skin is inflamed or open, bacteria easily overgrows," Dr. Choudhary tells SELF.

If you're buying an over-the-counter wash, look for products that can be used every day to find something that isn't too harsh for your skin, Dr. Choudhary says. (Or you can ask your dermatologist about using a prescription antibiotic cleanser instead.) Even then, you want to be careful of overly reducing your skin's natural bacteria, which helps protect you from potentially infectious pathogens, by cleansing too often. Instead, try using an acne wash once a week and seeing how your skin reacts, the Mayo Clinic recommends⁴. If your skin doesn't become dry or irritated, then you can gradually increase how often you use it up to once per day.

2. Avoid scrubbing your skin.

You might feel like you need to scrub or use a loofah to get clean, but that can make things worse. "Scrubbing can visibly break the skin open in areas with hidradenitis suppurativa and, in general, opens up the skin barrier to more infections and allergens," Dr. Choudhary says. Even if you don't get an infection or have active lesions, your skin can get irritated from washing vigorously. To clean your skin as gently as possible, the Mayo Clinic⁴ recommends soaping up using your hands rather than with a loofah or washcloth. This can also help you avoid getting an infection since many loofahs and washcloths can be laden with bacteria, which can enter your body through tiny cuts or open sores.

3. Be careful with your hair removal methods.

Waxing and shaving during a hidradenitis suppurativa flare can make things worse, according to Angela J. Lamb⁵, M.D., associate professor of dermatology and director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology. Both can cause things like ingrown hairs and inflamed hair follicles, which will only add to your discomfort during a flare.

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