Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can be mistaken for many things so you may have it and not know it. To help you, continue reading to learn about the symptoms you will have if you have this disorder. You will also find information on how it can be treated to help you feel better.  

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa causes painful bumps to appear under your skin in different areas of your body. If these bumps become infected, pus forms under the skin. This can have an odor if the bumps break open and this will then be very painful for you. 

There is no cure for this condition but there are treatment options available to help you feel better. It may last a long time before it goes away. Doctors are not sure what causes this to happen. 

Diagnosing Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Because it can be difficult for you to be sure you have this condition, visit your doctor to have it diagnosed. Unfortunately, there are no tests available to diagnose this. The doctor will diagnose this condition by how the bumps look and the symptoms you have.

If you visit your regular doctor, they may refer you to a dermatologist if they are not able to diagnose it. Even if they can determine that you have this, they may not know how to properly treat it. 

Treatment Options

There are many treatment options available to help you control your symptoms so you can feel better. The doctor may prescribe you an antibiotic cream to place on the areas. If you have a lot of HS on different areas of your body, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic medication. If you have severe HS, you may be kept on antibiotics for a few months. The doctor may also prescribe pain medication if you are in a lot of pain. 

There are also surgical options available, which will be offered if your other treatments do not work. This will also be offered if you have abscesses on your skin that will not go away. This problem can cause tunnels under the sores that make it even more painful.

During surgery, the doctor removes the skin to expose and remove the tunnels. This is commonly used for people that have severe HS. The doctor may choose to surgically remove the infected skin. If so, they will use a skin graft on the area to close the wound, if needed. 

Talk with your dermatologist about other hidradenitis suppurativa treatment options.