On painful outbreaks beneath the skin that NEED TO surface and open to drain,
I use DMSO Cream (the O is Oxide/Oxygen, which assists the skin to do what it's trying to do... HEAL! It helps the skin to corral the harmful bacteria, gather them up and PUSH THEM OUT (so the pustules then open & drain, relieving the pain). Onto clean skin (no other cream, lotion or oil), pat on the DMSO Cream using a finger cot (fingers cut off of vinyl med gloves, cheaper than actual finger cots). I cover with an absorbent pad held on by my undies.
Peel off the finger cot inside out & toss.
I say CLEAN SKIN, because DMSO is a carrier, meaning, it can penetrate the skin barrier and carry other substances with it INTO the skin. A couple times I had an allergy-type itchy reaction using the DMSO & it turned out I had another cream or lotion on already! I've never had a reaction using it on cleaned skin, and I have sensitive skin.
Upon application, it gives the sore, stinging skin a slight cooling 🌬sensation of relief (not nearly as strong as an icy menthol muscle rub). And the pustule should open to begin draining WITHIN TWO DAYS. 😊 What a relief!
For showers, I wet the underarm & under groin HS trouble spots, then apply JĀSÖN TEATREE BODYWASH and let it soak in to help my skin while I wash the rest of me (hair too). Then leave those til last for rinsing.
After showering, while towel-patting dry, I stand in front of a small clip-on fan to hold open & THOROUGHLY DRY my HS trouble spots (could use a blow dryer set on COOL but that takes an extra hand).
And every day, MORNING AND NIGHT, WHETHER I HAVE AN OUTBREAK OR NOT, I use SKYORGANICS WITCH HAZEL/TEA TREE FACIAL TONER in its spray bottle (yes, it's gentle and I use it on my face too) on my HS trouble spots. Spritz it on directly or spray on a cotton facial pad and gently dab on. Then fan-dry again (just to try keeping the trouble spots DRY).
The Tea Tree products help my skin heal and stay clear.
The skin already WANTS to do that- I'm just changing the surface conditions a little to make it easier.

I'm currently clear, no breakouts. Not taking any Rx meds.
When I have a groin breakout, it's so painful it feels like the skin is ready to split.
It gets HOT ☀️ here where I live, my groin gets sweaty and stays wet (no help at all!)
My HS-prone skin was angry-looking 😡, dark pink and shiny.
Right now it's near normal skin color, no outbreak, no pain.

You may be able to find the DMSO and TEATREE products at your local grocery, drugstore or health food store (in the skin care aisle). If not, can be found on the big online store that starts with A (that's where I buy them).

I hope this helps. 💐

I am going to ask for some Clindamycin cream, I have been using silvidene cream which helps heal but is mostly used for burns. Neosporin triple antibiotic will help. Any of these with a 2 x 2 or 2 x 4 gauze held on with bandaid blue tape. If won't stay on, get a band-aid that fits the area well. Also, I take vitamin D with K2, Tumeric with black pepper, calcium/magnesium/potassium in one bottle formula (can find on Amazon), and zinc. I use Dermoviva soap which has Neem in it. Any kind of Neem soap helps me. I am the one in blue in the pic. I was diagnosed at age 28 and I am 57 now, so 30 years and counting. I have tried steroid shots, Accutane. cephalexin, doxycycline, and monocycline antibiotics and am now on Humira. Pray 🙏 for a cure.

When I'm having a bad flare or it feels super itchy, i use a liitle bit of Vicks vaporubm

I believe you. I used them most my life and they helped. Long term use has a problem tho because I went 2 years without them while having surgeries and have gone another half year without them taking Humira. Now, I have became where most antibiotics make it worse. My system flipped a switch. By no means was I trying to infect a community or endanger anyone. Or cause anyone to be more susceptible to anything due to my use. It is what many mds and dermatologist prescribe when you first get h.s. or Accutane which I could not tolerate due to super high triglycerides. I thought you could only get MRSA from hospitals? Oh well, I don't know it all, just trying to get through this life without that h.s. 😈 devil chasing me around. I did read the article you posted.

Hey Jo......I have one just this year that is at the top of my leg. I am a bit chunky and I think I got it from rubbing! I have had to bandage for months, and seems like I might have to forever! I have tried to downsize my bandaids but I can feel another flare up because of rubbing....I guess, so I use Bandaid bandaids that are about 3" x 1-1/2". I have bought a brand that doesn't stick to well, and tried other bandages, also no success because of the movement in that area. I found "Absolute Waterproof Tape", and I have also used that with gauze. I cut it about 8" long and wrap it around my leg somewhat. It seems to stick really well in spite of the movement, and isn't too harsh on my skin. I have had to bandage this one for about 4 months now.....so have my shower in the morning, bandage up, and forget about it. Before bedtime, I take the bandage off for the night, but I wipe the area with a hot cloth to clean any cream or leakage. The cream I use is prescribed by my Dr, called Taro-Mupirocin......I think it's similar to clindamycin.