Black women, in particular, have ahigher risk of HS.
Thankfully, there are ways to prevent and treat HS scars, but some approaches work better than others.
Heres what you gotta know, according to the experts and people with HS we talked to.
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See a dermatologist as early as you’re free to.
To slow that process down, you should ideally get started on a treatment plan as early as possible.
After eventually talking about it with her mother, itstilltook a long time to figure out.
I was in and out of doctors for years, she tells SELF.
HS is an extremely challenging skin condition, she says.
Try antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Sodha typically prescribes topical steroid cream that her patients can use between visits.
This is a low-risk topical antibiotic treatment for open wounds, Dr. Sodha says.
I dont advocate for hydrogen peroxide.
I dont advocate for alcohol, she says.
These things are irritating and caustic.
When a new lesion forms, keep it clean and covered.
This jot down of dressing can also help reduce friction that comes along with movement, she says.
Friction can worsen hidradenitis and is one of the reasons that we recommend cotton clothing.
None of the commonly recommended types worked for Spruell, she says.
My skin was so dry, it was, like, cracked.
She now prefers Natives Sea Salt & Cedar Body Wash.
I haveeczemaas well as HS, so I have to be very careful.
Its a nice little medium.
Look into laser hair removal.
However, this doesnt work for everyoneparticularly if you already have thick scars.
It may also be too painful for some people with HS and can be pricey.
Unfortunately, its not widely covered or almost rarely ever covered by insurance, Dr. Sodha says.
This is one of the challenges.
We just dont have a lot of good medical coverage for patients that need laser therapy with this diagnosis.
Give yourself time to heal after surgery.
Its also important to rest so that any wounds heal properly, she says.
Akins tried to do too much after her first surgery, which caused her stitches to pop open.
She needed a repeat procedure, but she healed well and the constant drainage stopped.
She says most people dont pay that much attention to her scars anyway.
Without an intervention, HS is going to spread if you let it, Akins says.
You might be able to get your quality of life back.
