7 Places on the Body That Hidradenitis Suppurativa Can Appear
HS often shows up on the body’s sweatiest, most sensitive, and most friction-prone regions.
Despite what Instagram and photo filters would have us think, no one has perfectly smooth skin over the entirety of their body. We’re all prone to the occasional bump, rash, zit, or ingrown hair. These issues generally go away after the blocked follicle, clogged pore, or minor skin irritation resolves.
But hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is different. HS is a chronic, progressive skin condition that typically appears as boil-like lumps in some of your most sensitive regions (and beyond).
HS lumps or bumps can form interconnected tracts underneath the skin that may become inflamed and infected, causing discomfort and pain. Although infections are often a part of HS, the disease itself is not an infection — it’s due to an ongoing inflammatory response in the body.
In addition to causing pain and discomfort, HS can be extremely frustrating and impact your self-esteem. Identifying HS correctly and early is crucial for getting optimal care, easing symptoms, slowing disease progression, and improving your mental health.
While we don’t know what exactly causes HS, genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors may play a role. Skin regions prone to HS include those where we sweat often and where friction is super common. Friction can occur from skin rubbing on skin, or where clothing can chafe or rub.
Here are seven areas of the body that are often impacted by HS.
Our underarms are packed with hair follicles and apocrine glands (aka, sweat glands). With HS, these follicles and glands may become clogged, and bacteria can start to grow, leading to the inflamed boil-like bumps of HS.
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