As you move through your day, the skin in your groin area moves too. So it’s no surprise that hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) lesions in the groin can be uncomfortable and challenging to bandage.

“HS flare-ups in my groin make me anxious and depressed,” shared one myHSteam member. Another said, “​​It's been a challenging month with flares in my inner groin area. I am doing my best to hang in there.”

HS is an inflammatory skin condition that can affect your quality of life. Also called acne inversa, HS causes painful and chronic lesions in the groin area, between the inner thighs, under the breasts, in the armpits, around the buttocks, and anywhere else you have skin folds or skin rubs together. Unfortunately, HS lesions are most likely to occur in areas that are tricky to bandage.

To better understand how to bandage HS in the groin, myHSteam spoke with Dr. Julia Riley, a dermatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and an assistant professor of dermatology at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Dr. Riley offered some tips for effectively bandaging HS lesions in the groin area.

If you have specific questions about your hidradenitis suppurativa, ask a dermatologist or your health care provider for medical advice.

1. Check With Your Insurance Company

Before purchasing dressings and other wound care supplies, ask your insurance company if you can be reimbursed. Your insurance provider may require proof that the supplies are necessary for the medical treatment of your hidradenitis suppurativa wounds.

“Most insurance companies will cover wound care supplies,” Dr. Riley said. “I think this is a missed opportunity for many HS patients and dermatologists. It does take a little bit of work on the part of both the patient and the care provider, so it’s not a simple thing, but it’s worth asking your dermatologist about.”

Your insurance company will likely have its own process and requirements, so start by giving them a call. You can also ask your dermatologist for help.

Dr. Riley shared a standard process you might experience:

1. Decide which products you need.
2. Find a wound care supply company covered by your insurance.
3. Provide the necessary documentation to your insurance company to get those products covered.
4. Receive confirmation from your insurance provider that the supplies will be covered.
5. Order the products and organize their delivery.

“I always tell my patients that if they have a specific type of wound care dressing that they’re purchasing, we have the ability to help in many cases,” Dr. Riley said.

2. Organize Your Supplies

When you’re bandaging HS in the groin, you may find it helpful to organize your supplies before you start.

“Make sure you have everything set up in one place before you begin,” Dr. Riley said. “The worst thing is forgetting something and then having to go and grab it in the middle of applying your wound care dressing.”

Your supply list will depend on your diagnosis, preferences, prescriptions, instructions from your health care provider, and the extent of your HS wounds.

Here are some supplies you might need for dressing changes:

• Sterile gloves
• Scissors
• A handheld mirror
• Absorbent dressings
• Gauze
• Tape
• Petroleum jelly
• A topical antibiotic, such as clindamycin or dapsone
• Prescription ointments or medications to promote wound healing

Dr. Riley recommends cleaning the affected areas first. Doing so may expand your supply list to include antibacterial soap, a gentle cleanser, warm water, a washcloth, and a clean, dry towel. Avoid using antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide on open wounds or abscesses.

Some myHSteam members take a bath or use warm compresses before applying their dressings. “I am having a flare-up, with three new lesions on my groin, so I took a bleach bath today,” said one member.” Another said, “I use a warm compress and make sure the breakout area is clean.”

Once you determine the ideal strategy for bandaging your lesions, consider making a checklist. Instead of relying on memory, you can refer to it daily to ensure you have the necessary supplies.

3. Seek Recommendations

When trying to bandage a tricky area, like HS lesions in your groin, you may need to experiment with different products until you find a solution that works for you. Members of myHSteam share tips for bandaging the groin based on lots of trial and error. Here are a few examples:

• “I’ve had HS in my groin for over 40 years! I use cloth bandages (Band-Aid brand or Elastoplast) and gauze.”
• “I buy large Band-Aids and use extra gauze.”
• “I use Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Tape. It’s sticky and stretchy, so it stays on when you sit and stand. It’s the only thing that works for me.”
• “I use smart-heal bandages. No ointment needed, no creams, no mess.”

In addition to getting ideas from others with HS, talk to your dermatology care provider about wound care.

“Hypafix is a type of tape that we often recommend,” Dr. Riley said. “It’s like a sticky paper.”

She said some people also use Coban wrap, an over-the-counter self-adhesive bandage for wounds on the thighs: “It makes it easy because you don’t have to put tape around the dressing. You can put the dressing in place and then wrap it so it stays in that location.”

Dr. Riley said that some people also use maxi-pads for wound dressing. “I think maxi-pads can be helpful, mainly for the reason that they are designed for the groin area,” she explained. “Also, they already have adhesive, and they’re designed to absorb fluid.”

4. Wear Comfortable Clothes

You may prefer loose-fitting clothes or tighter clothes, but experiment to figure out which feels best. Some people with HS lesions in the groin recommend wearing boxer shorts, regardless of gender.

“I have been wearing men’s boxers for years,” wrote one myHSteam member. “I always get 100 percent cotton and buy a size bigger than I need for comfort.”

Another said, “I’m female, but I wear men’s boxers when I have lesions. Do whatever works for you.”

Dr. Riley also recommends boxer shorts. “One thing I recommend for the groin area is boxer shorts,” she said. “There are so many options. Loose boxer shorts may be best for men to reduce friction. Boy shorts are also helpful for women, as they reduce friction in the thigh fold.”

She also suggests looking into clothing that can hold your dressings in place. Tape attached to your skin can stretch or shift when you move, but dressings attached to your clothes may be more likely to stay put. This strategy may also reduce the frequency of dressing changes.

“I find that some patients don’t necessarily need to tape anything to their skin,” Dr. Riley explained. “They place the dressings in boxer shorts or other clothing. That way, if you remove your boxers, you don't have to remove all the tape. The dressings can stay in the boxers, and then you just put them back on.”

This can be especially helpful since boxers or other underwear will need to be removed to use the bathroom.

Some people with HS have told Dr. Riley that they like HidraWear, a brand of clothing created specifically for HS. The company offers briefs for men and women, with built-in pockets and fasteners for disposable dressings.

“Most insurances cover HidraWear clothing,” Dr. Riley said. “You can purchase it without insurance, but I recommend trying to get it covered by insurance if possible.”

5. Talk to Your Doctor

Your dermatology health care provider should be able to help if you have questions about treatment options or bandaging HS lesions in your groin. Is the adhesive not sticking? Do you need more absorbent dressings? Is the tape irritating hair follicles or cysts or exacerbating other HS symptoms? Take notes as challenges arise so you remember to ask all your questions.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myHSteam, the social network for people with hidradenitis suppurativa, more than 34,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with HS.

Do you have tips or questions about bandaging HS in the groin? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.