Things that work for my hidrenitis!!!

[Igurl]

Hey, so I just joined this group to get tips on dealing with hidrenitis and to share some of the things I’ve learned that have worked

So first off, I had my first outbreak of hidrenitis at 14 (I’m 25 now). At the time I was super embarrassed and it started off as one hard painful cystic acne that left terrible scarring. I never told anyone for years but ofcourse never wore a bikini or anything. At the age of 20 at the gynecologist is when I was officially diagnosed with Hidrenitis supprativa. She recommended me going on birth control to control the symptoms, but I wasn’t sexually active and didn’t want to take any chemicals. Also for reference I am 5’3 and generally weigh somewhere between 125-140. So now I have terrible scarring on my inner thighs (which rub together. Lol ya know the whole “thick thighs save lives”). Well last year I had a TERRIBLE outbreak of hidrenitis. Several hard lumps making it incredibly painful to walk and my self esteem was in the pooper. So I finally gave in to the gynecologist and took Lo Loestrin Fe, a low dose birth control. I had serious doubts because nothing I’d done had really worked before. Creams/soaps/gluten free diet, nothing worked. Well I’ve been outbreak free for over a year, since I started the birth control🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. Not one single hard painful lump🙌🏽 Nothing!!! I still have the awful scarring but at least no new scarring is taking place. Some other things I have found that help are waxing over shaving..... 100%. Obviously if you have open wound, please don’t wax but removing the hair from the root definitely helps. Also reducing sweaty thigh friction as well (although with the birth control, shaving and sweaty thighs don’t trigger anything so yay!!!) cocoa butter is soooo good for soothing purposes and also minimally helps scarring as well. I’m going to look into liposuction eventually to completely reduce thigh friction and a dermatologist recommendation for the scarring (which is the bane of my existence. I feel so ugly and unattractive and it DEFINITELY makes sex basically nonexistent for me). But I just wanted to share these small tips with everyone and just encourage you not to give up!!

[Df10701]

I am so happy that Lo Losetrin has helped you! I have been suffering with HS for years and i just started this pill in hopes that it will help. Fingers crossed. You are giving me hope!

[Igurl]

Well I wrote this three months ago and since then I started laser scar removal.... let me just say this treatment is amazing🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 Currently on 2 of 4 and there’s been a definite decrease in the appearance of the scars. Also my skin feels much smoother than before. I had stretch marks that had made my skin kind of thin. Those have pretty much disappeared and my skin feels much firmer and healthy (and this is just from 2 treatments. She did say I may need 6 but i’ll Take anything :). Each treatment is $250 (definitely pricey), and painful if you don’t use lidocaine cream.

And I’m glad your trying it! And if it doesn’t work don’t be discouraged!!! There’s also an autoimmune medication you can try if the birth control hasn’t helped reduce outbreaks in 6 months. When I had my really bad outbreak ( right before starting birth control) I was so depressed and felt like I would never be able to be beautiful. I feel much better now especially since I’m working out, getting laser treatments.💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 You got this and lemme know how this BC works

[Df10701 in reply to Igurl]

It has been 5 months since I started Lo Loestrin fe and I am so happy to say that I have not had one boil yet! Bye bye pain! Thank you

[Igurl in reply to Df10701]

Yay that’s awesome!!! Also definitely look into the laser scar removal treatments. I’ve had 3 treatments so far and my skin is so much better! My skin is smoother, less discoloration and still no outbreaks (I’m also on a 2 month birth control break, and still no outbreaks😁👌🏽)