Living

Welcome to Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness Week 2023! While HS warriors work tirelessly to support one another and bring awareness to this condition all year round, we believe it’s especially important...

You have hidradenitis suppurativa You have an uncontrollable illness You have a disease that you were born with You have a condition that isn’t your fault You have to live...

Maybe it feels like you had to trudge through some swamps and fight off airplane-sized mosquitos to finally get what you have been waiting for to treat your hidradenitis suppurativa:...

After we were married, my husband and I moved to Africa on a work permit visa. It was my first time abroad and I was eager to explore the inner...

Talking about our condition can be embarrassing and often we avoid it like the bubonic plague. Often I wonder when the right time is to bring up the fact I...

As 2023 approached, I realized this marked 15 years since my HS introduced itself like the most unwelcome of visitors. I first started having HS symptoms when I was 13...

During my formative years, I was told that donating a part of our savings to someone in need is considered a good deed. Every year, my mother would contribute a...

I don’t know if anyone remembers that show, “The Love Boat,” but in my late 20s and early 30s I earned the nickname of Julie the Cruise Director. I used...

I was 11 years old and unsure what was going on with me. I would get these painful lumps seemingly everywhere. It would be days, sometimes weeks, before the pain...

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! To make a long story short, by eliminating foods like pork, beef, chicken, and dairy from my diet...

Let’s be honest, starting a relationship with hidradenitis suppurativa can be hard, but having sex with hidradenitis suppurativa can be painful and embarrassing. Let’s set the stage, it's sexy time...

Lately, I've found myself grieving my past life reminiscing over what was from food to relationships to a sense of comfort in my own body. The food restrictions I've decided...

Following your dreams while living with hidradenitis suppurativa is complicated. What we plan to do today differs from what we can do tomorrow. Each day presents new challenges, which means...

It’s really hard to feel good when you’re having a hidradenitis suppurativa flare. You feel emotionally and physically drained and in so much pain. That’s why self-care is so important...

In case you missed it, check out Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series! This one has been a little hard. As someone who used to wear sweaters and...

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! When it comes to my family, I’ve found that setting boundaries can mean different things. Sure, there have...

COVID-19 has changed our world. I was ordered to work from home in 2020 and I had a huge fear of catching COVID-19. I knew it could jeopardize my health...

Managing a chronic disease has its challenges, and it can be difficult to cope or even find someone that understands what you are feeling and experiencing at any given moment...

Historically, tattoos have been around for thousands of years. They tell a story and can tell you everything about a person. I have always admired the intricate ink designs. I...

The biggest issue that I find with people who have HS that may initially go unnoticed is the smell. We all know what I'm talking about... The smell that's a...