She figured it was a reaction to the intense heat, or perhaps some ingrown hairs.
But they doubled in size over a few weeks, becoming so painful she couldnt exercise or work comfortably.
Heres her story, as told to health writer Julia Ries.
Riley Moscicki/Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Getty Images
There were a handful oftiny pea-size bumpson my bikini line, armpits, and underboob area.
They didnt concern me at first.
I figured my skin was reacting to the Georgia heat.
I assumed the issue would go away after a few days.
Within a week, however, the bumps grew to the size of a quarter.
I showed them to my mom, who thought they were strange.
I thought maybe I picked up a random skin infection on my trip.
Around early August, the bumps went away.
Some were the size of a penny, but others were as big as a quarter.
I went to another friends wedding in mid-Augustbut thediscomfort was so badthat I couldnt even dance.
I dont even know how to describe the sensationits like any time I moved, my skin stretched.
It was so unbelievably painfuleven walking hurtso I ended up leaving the wedding early.
I also started to wear loose clothing because I wanted to hide what was going on.
I was embarrassed and confused about how the lumps looked.
I also had a tough time getting through the workday.
Sitting at my laptop was horrible.
If I moved my body, the bumps in my armpits burned.
The pain was really affecting my mental health.
I felt best lying downeven going to the bathroom hurt.
Im pretty activeIm always working out or going hikingbut I couldnt exercise at all.
Plus, pus was now regularly leaking out of the bumps.
I had no idea what was going on.
I decided to see my primary care doctor.
She just said I needed to have the bumps (which I learned are called nodules) lanced.
It was painful and gross seeing everything come out.
But I felt a lot better after it was donethe lancing relieved so much pain and pressure.
I thought something was seriously wronglike I had a bad infection or something.
It was the worst pain I ever had in my life.
It was very scary.
I was shaking and sweating from the pain, almost passing out at one point.
Then he packed my wounds, or basically put a bunch of gauze into the open areas.
That was such a weird sensationto just have paper towels stuffed deep in your skin.
I thought I was in the clear until September when I went to Tennessee for another wedding.
I got two horrible lumps on my right hip where my jean shorts rubbed against my skin.
(Ive since learned that being inhot temperaturesand wearing tight clothing contributes to flare-ups.)
Ive been doing laser hair removal for the past 11 months.
For the most part, my skin is clear.
Though the lumps are gone, I still feel insecure about myscars.
As a person of color, I scar easily and theyre very visible.
But I feel super lucky that I got diagnosed with HS relatively quickly.
The condition often goes mis- or undiagnosed for years,especially in people of color.
Im worried that itll affect me if and when I getpregnant.
