(Or HS)
Do you get weird lumpy spots around your groin and bum area and even in your armpits? Think they are normal?
Spoiler alert-they aren’t!
I have had these since I was 17 or so and always assumed they were harmless and normal. They started out as lumps under the skin around when my fanny meets my legs and around on my bum and then just went away. I could squeeze the odd one like a spot. They were painful to squeeze but went away so I sort of just ignored them.
2 months ago a MASSIVE one came up. I mean the size of a 50p piece or bigger while on holiday shortly followed by a collection of them all in one place. They were followed by more and more. Turns out they are HS and they can be pretty nasty. Since having my son my immune system has tanked and they are getting worse.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful, long term skin condition that causes abscesses and scarring on the skin.
The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa is unknown, but it occurs near hair follicles where there are sweat glands, usually around the groin, bottom, breasts and armpits.
For reasons that are unknown, more women than men have the condition. It’s thought to affect about 1% of the population.
Basically you get boils which form and over time they grow in clumps. This then means scar tissue forms under the skin when the boil type thingies form channels beneath the skin. I never realised how much scarring I had there until I had a look.
The advice seems to be catch it early and get to a dermatologist. It cannot be cured but it can be controlled. It can go away with menopause though so that is something to look forward to.
You can find more info here.
Luckily I have health insurance as the doctor was fricking useless. Not only did I have to self diagnosed but she read one website in front of me and told me to use a parade free shower gel. Not great especially as they are getting quite painful and one just doesn’t want that in ones lady garden area.
Clever C(nt)s 