Dr's don't know much, because there is not enough research done. I have talked to my Dr about my HS which I've had for over 40 yrs, my Dad and his Mom had it, so it's heriditary. I am in remission because I changed my diet.....went to my Dr and he said (looking at the records only Dr's can see)....."It says nothing here about that working". He says as you get older it will bother you less or go away! NOT TRUE EITHER...if I go off the diet, I have HS back. So it's not in the info he can access, so I must be wrong???? I would be so pissed if I PAID to go to the Dr and they were just guessing, or didn't know, and I think most of them will send you home with a prescrip that they guess will work. I feel so lucky to live in Canada where Dr appts and hospital emergency visits are FREE. I think Dr's take an oath that they have to help people, whether they know what's wrong or not. WE NEED people that have money....movie stars or whatever that have HS, then there would be more research done! Let me know if you are interested in the diet!

Zan that's a great idea, although if you have been on this site for long, you will notice that Dr's and Dermatologists don't necessarily know much about HS. I saw one that gave me doxycycline I took for 5 months.....it upset my stomach several times, could not show any skin outside without burning and itching, and did nothing for my HS!

A dermatologist is the kind of doctor knows what this is. I’ve suffered for over 15 years with my doctors not knowing what this was and just had to go to urgent cares to get lanced boils. So painful! It was not until I saw a new doctor this last summer 2023 that my doctor was concerned I had skin cancers. And referred me to a dermatologist where she educated me about HS and has put me on a long term antibiotic. It’s been keeping me lesion free for awhile now. I found this website and have learned much more about my condition.

Those antibiotics also make my stomach upset. I couldn’t stay on them more than a week!

JN, I am 58 and have had h.s. for 30 years. Thankfully, I was diagnosed correctly at age 28 in Arlington, TX from a regular M.D doctor. That doctor did send me to a specialist though that said it was hormonal and would stop 🛑 after menopause. I had a hysterectomy when I was 47 and was on Vivelle hormone patches until I was about 49. However, the h.s. did not stop. I am now going through a battle with my breasts once again. A lot of people have it under the breast and I have had cysts or h s. cut out under and around the breasts. However, mine is weird in that I don't have it under my arms. Mine has been in the groin, and started attacking the nipples of my breasts in 2020. I had a surgery on the left one that year. It did not heal correctly, so I went to wound care for 6 months then another surgery in 2021. After surgeries, I was sent to MD Anderson for checkup. They found no cancer Thank the Lord. On each one of these surgeries, all it is coded is as a breast disorder. Noone will give it a name. When I returned from MD Anderson.my surgeon had went on maternity leave and I saw another surgeon and my nipples still had problems. This surgeon suggested that it was all h.s. caused and sent a note to my dermatologist to put me on Humira to dry my boobs up. I made it 7 months on Humira and haven't a side effect now which better goes unmentioned because I do not want to scare you as it goes along well for most people on it. The point being, I have had this breast abscess with nipple involvement problem since 2020 and all anyone has really called it is a breast disorder. I too go to the doctor and leave more confused 🤔😕 than when I went. I am going to a breast surgeon in Houston on Monday next week in hopes that she can help me. My right nipple and breast is abscessed and very red and hurts very bad. In the meantime, I have also had stomach problems (diarrhea) very bad. I 🤔 think it might be from the heavy antibiotics my doctor put me on to help the abscess. At least, I hope that's it and I am not getting IBS or Chrohns. I have finished that course of antibiotics yesterday so will see if bathroom problems improve. Yes, I am bewildered by these doctors and 🙏 praying for some help. Well, we are already on the same team, and I am sorry this response was so long. Hope you find a kind and compassionate dermatologist 😊