Hidradenitis Suppurativa

GemaLinda · 03-21-2005, 09:59 PM

Has anyone heard of this skin disease?
Hidradenitis Suppurativa

It has been connected to women diagnosed with PCOS. How common is this?

How bad can it get?

Erin31CA · 03-22-2005, 12:57 AM

I've had it in the groin area. It went away with low carb and exercise.

GemaLinda · 03-22-2005, 02:49 AM

HS disappears with exercise and low carb? ok i haven't heard THAT before.

I know PCOS can be controlled by exercise and low carb, but not HS.

The research i've been doing says that the majority of women who have been diagnosed with PCOS have some strain of HS infection.

Again anyone?

K9Queen · 03-22-2005, 03:56 AM

I had it under my arms. At the time I had not yet been diagnosed conclusively with PCOS and therefore I went to a dermatologist. He did some injections (into the boil itself) and I kept having them on and off for months. I still have scars from the injections

This was about 3 years ago. I have not had a reoccurance of them under my arms, belly or anywhere else I can recall. I don't know why I haven't had a reoccurance but I don't think it was the injections because after the first couple that hurt like the dickens and I saw they left scars, I didn't go back to the dermatologist again. I had a couple more that went away or should I say, popped, on their own. How bad can it get? Well I believe I still have problems with it... meaning I know all these skin problems aer NOT acne, but I haven't had any get as big or painful as they were 3 years ago.

Don't know if this answers your question or not, but that was my experiance with it. Dermatologist was a bust IMO BTW.

GemaLinda · 03-22-2005, 04:14 AM

Thank you so much for sharing

You know, i'm just so happy to finally put a name to this "thing" that i've had on my body for years.

I'm sad to know that you experience this also, but I greatly appreciate hearing someone else's story.

Just keeps me from feeling like a freak you know? like i have been for ten years since this thing first appeared.

They say it's linked to PCOS because of the excess testerone our bodies may contain.

I'll be going to a dermatologist soon.

Again thank you

leachamb · 03-22-2005, 04:07 PM

I do not know what this is but I will look it up myself.

leachamb · 03-22-2005, 04:10 PM

this is some of what I found in it

Hidradenitis is a chronic disease of the scent or apocrine glands which causes chronic scarring and pus formation of the axillae and groin areas. It is similar to acne which is a disease of the sebaceous glands. This condition is slightly more common in African-Americans and women. Hidradenitis usually starts as one or more red, tender, swellings in the groin or axillae. Over a period of hours to days the lesions enlarge and often open to the skin surface draining clear to yellow fluid. The involved area then heals with scarring. The condition usually continues for years with periods of flare and remission.

Causes and Associations:

For unknown reasons, people with hidradenitis develop plugging or clogging of their apocrine glands. This leads to bacterial infection which can produce pain and odor.
Hidradenitis is made worse by being overweight, however this condition is not caused by obesity.
Hidradenitis is more common in people who have had acne.
Hidradenitis may become worse under stress.
Hidradenitis is not caused by poor hygiene.

AK · 03-22-2005, 08:12 PM

I have suffered from these hideous things for many years now. Finally was diagnosed Insulin Resistant and PCOS - put on Yasmin Birth Control, and 1500 mgs. of Metformin. After a period of months, I haven't had ANY problems with them! My doc said it is a result of the Insulin Resistance....people with diabetes often get them! I have found that breakouts of these things coincide with my sugar intake - ie, I can have troubles around Halloween because of the candy I eat! The weekend after, I might have the beginnings of a boil under the skin. The difference now is that they don't come to the surface anymore....just sort of a nuisance, then fades away. Metformin was the key for me!

GemaLinda · 03-23-2005, 02:14 AM

Thank you all for your responses

I'm becoming more knowledgeable of this infection, but it still amazes me.

I guess everyone is affected differently by this. I'm gonna try that sugar thing, but i think you have a point there.