Cydney Carter started getting bumps on her inner thighs when she was 12 years old.
They looked like acne, specificallyblackheads, but the bumps eventually got bigger and angrier.
Sometimes they burst and leaked fluid.
Mahala Preudhomme/Beautify HS Project by HS Connect
It turns out that the boil-like lumps she had are called nodules.
(If youre biracial, your risk is twofold higher.
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Carter, now 27, no longer hides her condition.
She goes bysocialcyddon TikTok, where she candidly shares her experiences with her more than 140,000 followers.
Heres why documenting her HS journey on social media has changed her life.
Carter:A lot of it was theshame.
(Now I know that HS isnt a hygiene issueorcontagious, and thecauses are super complicated.)
I didnt want to talk about it with my family, much less anyone else.
So instead of dealing with any of that backlash, I kept it to myself.
I dont think people realize how much it impacts your life.
Sometimes just walking or sitting is uncomfortable or painful.
Dating is also difficult.
I know my ex looked at my HS like it was disgusting or gross.
I know there are a lot of people with HS who choose not to date.
They would rather be alone, and I think thats really hard because everybody deserves somebody.
My HS is even affecting my ability to create a family.
HS impacts me every single day in a different way.
The response has been huge.
I have a go at keep up with my DMs, but they literally grow by the hundreds.
People message me and say they have HS but didnt even know there was a name for it.
People tell me about theirHS symptomsor ask for advice onhow to find a dermatologist.
Thats why Im pivoting to posting more educational videos about HS.
My form ofself-carereally istaking care of my skin.
I wasnt treating my flares for a long time.
I was just letting my HS happen to me versus taking steps to reduce the severity of my symptoms.
I also listen to my body.
When Im tired, Itake a nap.
When Im hungry, I dont punish myself for whatever food I decide to eat.
I go fordaily walks; the sun helps when Im feeling down.
I stopped being too hard on myself, and I dont worry about whether people are judging me.
I just get to be myself.
HS doesnt rule me or fill me with fear anymore.
In a weird way, sharing my HS journey genuinely changed my life for the better.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
