Clear, patient-written information about HS symptoms, painful recurring lumps, abscesses, drainage, bleeding, scarring and tunnels under the skin — and the reality of living with them.
Start hereUnderstanding the condition
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can cause painful, recurring lumps, boils and abscesses. Over time, some wounds may drain, scar or form tunnels under the skin.
HS can cause painful recurring lumps, boils, abscesses, swelling, bleeding and drainage. Repeated inflammation may lead to scarring and connected tunnels under the skin. HS commonly affects areas where skin rubs together, including the armpits, groin, inner thighs, buttocks and under the breasts.
HS is more than a skin condition. Painful wounds in the armpits, groin or buttocks can affect walking, sitting, sleep, work, travel, clothing, intimacy, wound care, confidence and emotional health.
Living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa means managing a condition that is unpredictable, often painful, and largely invisible to others. A person can appear completely normal while privately dealing with recurring lumps, open abscesses, tunnels under the skin, pain, bleeding, pus or fluid drainage, dressings, odour anxiety, exhaustion and emotional burnout.
What people get wrong
These are things people with HS hear — from friends, family, colleagues, and sometimes doctors.
HS is fluctuating and unpredictable. Some days are manageable. Some days are not. The emotional exhaustion of constantly proving that the illness is real — to employers, to family, to friends — becomes a burden on top of the physical one. Many patients feel judged as lazy, dramatic, unhygienic, or exaggerating. They are none of these things.
The invisible side
People with HS spend a lot of time explaining themselves — not because they want to, but because they have to.
Why they cancel plans at the last minute
Why they cannot travel comfortably
Why they are exhausted even on good days
Why treatment is complicated and ongoing
Why they sometimes need to isolate themselves
Why their work consistency can be affected
Day to day
The everyday realities of managing HS that most resources do not cover.
How to dress wounds in the armpits or groin without making things worse
How to manage bleeding and drainage through a normal day
How to reduce odour anxiety and feel less self-conscious
How to deal with stained clothes and underwear with some dignity
How to sit, sleep, or travel during a flare without making it worse
How to function socially and professionally while managing pain
Common questions
Straight answers to questions patients and families often ask when they first encounter HS.
No. HS may begin as recurring painful lumps or boil-like abscesses, but it is a chronic inflammatory condition. Repeated flare-ups can lead to drainage, scarring and tunnels under the skin.
HS commonly affects the armpits, groin, inner thighs, buttocks and under the breasts — especially areas where skin rubs, folds or traps moisture.
No. HS is not caused by being unclean, and it is not contagious. Hygiene advice alone does not address the underlying inflammatory disease.
Yes. Pain, bleeding, drainage, dressings, fatigue and wounds in areas used for sitting or walking can make commuting, travel and consistent work difficult.
No. Location, severity, frequency, treatment response and daily impact vary widely. A patient’s lived experience should not be dismissed because another person appears less affected.
There is currently no universally reliable cure. Medical treatment, surgery, wound care and lifestyle support may reduce symptoms or help some patients reach remission. Treatment decisions belong with qualified clinicians.
What this site is
A calm, independent resource — not a startup, not a miracle cure platform, not a pharma mouthpiece.
Explaining HS honestly — what it is, what it is not, and what to actually expect.
Addressing myths and misconceptions that make life harder for patients and those around them.
Practical guidance from people managing HS day to day — not just clinical descriptions.
Helping patients feel less alone. Because knowing others understand makes a real difference.
Get in touch
Questions, corrections, a story you want to share, or just a thought — this reaches us directly. You can stay anonymous if you prefer.