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You may be thinking hidra–what? Unlike some of my other topics like light devices, toners, or sunscreens, you won’t be able to google HS or find many articles about HS in Glamour or Allure. Most people haven’t heard of it before, and many people affected by HS don’t even know they have it. That’s exactly why I am writing this blog–to make HS a condition with a voice that reaches more people.  Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a chronic skin condition that presents with tender, red bumps in the body fold areas of the body, like the neck fold, armpits, under the breasts, and the inner thighs. HS can also affect the vaginal skin and buttocks. The bumps can ooze pus or drain and develop tunnels under the skin, possibly causing scarring. HS lesions can also have an odor and make patients feel embarrassed or very self-conscious. It’s important to highlight that HS is not an infection and is not a result of poor hygiene. HS is driven by the immune system, which creates inflammation in the skin.  So, who gets HS? Women are three times more likely to get HS than men. HS typically starts after puberty but may also first present later in life in the 40s and 50s.  Wondering if HS runs in families? It’s possible. There appears to be a genetic component where about 30% of HS patients report a family member who has it, too. Data show that if you are Black or Biracial, you are more likely to have HS as compared to Caucasian people. One thing that unites HS patients is its impact on their lives. HS can leave patients feeling ashamed or embarrassed, making it difficult to enjoy activities like school, sports, work, and sexual intimacy. Imagine being a teenager having draining boils all the time and trying to make that basketball shot, or imagine being in a relationship and uncomfortable with becoming intimate because you have painful, draining bumps. HS dramatically impacts a person’s quality of life and mental and emotional health.   Recognizing HS early is important so treatment can focus on improving and preventing worsening disease. Treatments include washes, topical creams and pills like antibiotics or steroids. Pills that affect hormones in the body can also be used for treatment. Newer medications focus on the immune system to help HS. In addition to medical treatment, HS can also be treated surgically or with laser therapy. As we discussed before, addressing HS’s psychological impact is essential as a part of the treatment approach.  Trotter’s Take: HS is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that presents with boil bumps in the body folds. If you think you have HS or know someone who does, see a dermatologist for an evaluation and discussion of treatment. You are not alone! Want to learn more? Listen in on my podcast with Dr. Fabrizio Galimberti, as we shine a light on HS.