Mary was a pre-teen the first time she realized something wasnt quite right with her skin.
During college, they began appearing under her arms as well.
The innocuous breakouts seemed to be spreading, and they were getting worse with time.
Photo byDev AsangbamonUnsplash
HS is a dysfunction with sweat glands, in which lesions develop as a result of inflammation and infection.
They most commonly occur in places where skin touches each other like under arms, or thighs.
Though there are many ways to manage the condition, theres no one single cure.
Courtesy of Mary Fehr
It was repeatedly called cystic acne.
I went to three dermatologists, and they all said the same thing.
To figure out what was really going on, Mary relied on a self-diagnosis.
It was like: Do you suffer from cysts under your arms, and in your groin area?
I looked up HS for the first time, and I was like This is exactly what this is.
I had never thought of it before.
I went to the dermatologist and they confirmed it.
The really tough thing is that its kind of an embarrassing condition, Mary explained.
Especially having it on your butt and thighs.
Despite that, Mary says HS really overall isnt that bad, except for the occasional painful cyst.
Whats most important, she says, is understanding what management works for you.
Though that doesnt cause it, it does contribute to its severity, she said.
I think a lot more people struggle with this than we know, she said.
Just because people arent talking about it, doesnt mean its not happening.
