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Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)

What HS is, how to recognise it, how it is treated and how to live well with it — in clear, simple language.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a long-term inflammatory skin disease. It causes painful lumps and abscesses that keep returning in the same places — most often the armpits, groin, buttocks and under the breasts — and over time it can form tunnels under the skin and scars.

HS starts in the hair follicles and involves the immune system. It is not caused by poor hygiene and it is not contagious. Because it is often mistaken for ordinary boils, many people wait years for the right diagnosis — early recognition and treatment make a real difference.

Where HS usually appears

  • Armpits
  • Groin and inner thighs
  • Buttocks
  • Under the breasts
  • ≈1%of people worldwide are estimated to live with HS
  • 7–10 yrsis the typical delay before an HS diagnosis
  • Not contagiousHS cannot pass from one person to another
  • Not hygieneHS is not caused by being unclean

Figures: HS Connect.

Signs to look for

  • Painful, deep lumps that keep coming back in the same places
  • Abscesses that may break open and drain fluid
  • Tunnels (sinus tracts) under the skin
  • Scarring and thickened skin over time
  • Blackheads that appear in pairs

Stages of HS

Doctors often describe HS using the Hurley stages. Knowing the stage helps decide the right treatment.

  1. Hurley IOne or more lumps or abscesses, without tunnels or scarring.
  2. Hurley IIAbscesses that keep returning, with tunnels and scarring in separate areas.
  3. Hurley IIIWidespread involvement of an area, with many connected tunnels and scars.

Treatment

How HS is treated

There is no single treatment for every person with HS. Care is planned around the stage of the disease, the areas involved and how HS affects your daily life — and usually combines several approaches.

  1. Medicines

    Topical treatments, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines, chosen according to the stage of HS.

  2. Biologic therapy

    For moderate to severe HS, targeted biologic medicines may be considered under specialist supervision.

  3. Procedures

    Drainage when needed, deroofing of tunnels, excision of persistent areas and laser options — decided case by case.

  4. Wound & pain care

    Dressings, pain control and gentle skin care that make daily life easier.

  5. Lifestyle support

    Stopping smoking, weight management and loose, breathable clothing can help reduce flares.

  6. Emotional support

    HS can affect mood, confidence and relationships — counselling and peer support are part of care.

General patient information. Diagnosis and treatment are decided individually at consultation.

Living well with HS

  • Wear loose, breathable cotton clothing
  • Keep the skin clean with a gentle, fragrance-free wash
  • Stop smoking — it is closely linked to HS flares
  • Work towards a healthy weight, at your own pace
  • Seek review early when a flare begins
  • Connect with others — you are not alone

When to see a dermatologist

  • Boils or lumps that keep returning in the same places
  • Pain that affects sleep, work or movement
  • Lesions that drain or have formed tunnels
  • You were told it is “just boils”, but it keeps coming back
Book an HS consultation

Frequently asked questions

Is HS contagious?

No. HS cannot be passed to another person by touch, sharing items or close contact.

Is HS caused by poor hygiene?

No. HS is an inflammatory disease of the hair follicles that involves the immune system. Washing more will not prevent it.

Can HS be cured?

There is no permanent cure yet, but treatment can control symptoms, reduce flares and help stop the disease from progressing — the earlier, the better.

Is HS the same as boils?

HS is often mistaken for boils. The difference is that HS lumps return again and again in the same areas and can form tunnels and scars.

HS Connect · Bangladesh Center

Bangladesh Center for HS Connect

HS Skin Care is the Bangladesh Center for HS Connect — an international organisation that supports people living with hidradenitis suppurativa through reliable information, specialist care and peer support, in their own language. Through HS Connect Bangladesh, patients can find a Bengali HS guide, support groups and resources for living well with HS.

Visit HS Connect

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