Living

HS is a grueling disease that has taught me so much. I was diagnosed when I was 17 years old and will soon be 27. Coming up on the 10...

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! Your resistance to only looking on the bright side is actually normal. Pushing down your feelings and pasting...

In case you missed it, check out Parts 1 and 2 of this series! In learning to accept that my journey with HS is in fact not my fault, I...

Maybe this scenario sounds familiar to you: you are standing in line at your favorite store, buying up all of their 3”x4” self-adhesive bandages they had out on the shelves...

In the early stages of my HS diagnosis, I put up with a lot from doctors. I was scared and unsure of what was happening with my body and so...

In case you missed it, check out Parts 1 and 2 of this series! You’re being treated, but you need some support from others who are going through what you...

For many people, exercising with HS is a double-edged sword - you know that exercise has health benefits that can help with HS, but exercising itself can sometimes be painful...

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! You made it to the appointment! Maybe it’s your first time with this doctor, or maybe it’s your...

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! I switched to a new doctor about two years after my diagnosis because of a poor experience with...

What’s your number? No, actually, I don’t mean your phone number. Have you stopped to think about the number of doctors you’ve seen in your lifetime? If you are fairly...

There is nothing in this world that I hate more than the sight of my own blood. Watching a gruesome scene on TV or seeing a client’s injuries are totally...

Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself? I know, everyone hates this question. Nearly everyone, that is. Let’s be a little more specific. Are you a lover...

Formerly known as acne inverse, Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition that affects the hair follicles and sweat glands of the body. It manifests as painful puss-filled swellings...

In my experience, connecting with our community is one of the most pivotal parts of healing as a Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) patient. Knowing you aren't the only patient with boils...

Living with a long-term health condition requires us to stay on top of everything: doctor’s appointments, new symptoms, insurance, and, of course, managing treatment – all while taking care of...

Something that comes up often in patient discussion groups is the awful manifestation of what appears to be blackheads, but are technically double-ended pseudocomedones. One person might describe theirs as...

College is stressful. There is no doubt about it. For those of us who have HS, stress can be a huge trigger. So mixing college stress with HS can have some negative...

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! My college days were filled with interrupted sleep patterns, meal choices that lacked proper nutrition, and an intense...

This last year has been a humdinger. Actually, make that the last two years. I feel like everyone on Earth was playing “Red Light, Green Light” and Nature was “It,”...

It has been 13 years since I was diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, a skin condition that surfaced in my early twenties. With repeated outbreaks of puss-filled lesions in my underarms...