Clothing or skin rubbing against skin can create a lot of friction in the inner thigh area as you move through your day. All that rubbing can make it uncomfortable and challenging to bandage hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) lesions on the inner thighs, which already may be sensitive and painful.

“My inner thigh skin is more sensitive, even to the better waterproof, less irritating glue bandages. I need to prevent friction over a bump that can’t make up its mind if it wants to come to a head or hide and dissolve,” shared one myHSteam member.

Hidradenitits suppurativa is an inflammatory skin condition that causes small, painful lumps under the skin and can affect quality of life. HS lesions usually form in skinfolds or where skin rubs together, such as between the inner thighs, in the groin area or armpits, under the breasts, and around the buttocks.

HS lesions on the inner thighs can be hard to bandage and keep in place. To better understand how to successfully bandage that area, 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 tips for effectively bandaging HS lesions on the inner thigh. Many myHSteam members also have offered their suggestions.

If you have specific questions about your HS and how to deal with lesions, ask a dermatologist or your health care provider for medical advice. Below are five tips to help get you started on better care for HS lesions on the inner thighs.

1. Get All Your Supplies Ready Before You Start Bandaging

The first thing to do before you start bandaging your inner thighs is to make sure you have all your supplies organized and ready to go. That may seem simple, but it makes a difference when your hands are full and you’re trying to keep everything clean.

“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.”

Supplies for bandaging and changing dressings include:

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

Talk to your doctor about just which supplies you need. They can also give specific recommendations based on your diagnosis, preferences, prescriptions, and the extent of your HS wounds.

Dr. Riley recommended cleaning the affected areas first, using antibacterial soap or 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 to manage their inner thigh lesions. “A hot bath can help draw them out, otherwise I put a dressing on it, and that takes the edge off because it gives it cushioning and it’s not touching anything,” one member wrote in response to another’s question about managing lesions on the inner thighs.

“I’ve been told warm compresses help, and I’ve used that method,” another member responded. “It worked sometimes but not every time, but you can try it to see for yourself. God be with you. ❤”

Once you figure out your strategy for bandaging your inner thigh lesions, consider making a checklist. That way you can make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand and follow a step-by-step checklist when you have a flare-up.

2. Wear Clothes That Work With Your Bandage

You may prefer either loose-fitting clothes or snugger clothing around your inner thighs — experiment to see which feels best. Some people with HS lesions on the inner thighs recommend wearing tight clothes to keep the bandage in place, while others prefer looser items.

“I honestly found the surgeries on the outer labia easier to dress than the ones on the inner thigh because your underwear will just hold it in place. With the inner thigh ones, I found myself wearing fitted shorts under everything to keep the dressing in place,” one myHSteam member wrote.

“I never layer my clothes anymore, and when I am in clothes, it’s basketball shorts or a dress,” shared another member.

Dr. Riley recommends boxers for lesions in the groin area, which may also work for lesions in the upper inner thighs. “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.”

Dr. Riley suggests looking into clothing that can hold your dressings in place. Tape attached to skin can stretch or shift when you move, whereas dressings attached to clothing may be more likely to stay put. This strategy may allow you to change the dressings less often.

“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.”

Some people have told Dr. Riley that they like HidraWear, a brand of clothing created specifically for hidradenitis suppurativa. 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.”

3. Ask Your Insurance Company About Reimbursement for Wound Supplies

Before purchasing dressings and other wound care supplies, ask your insurance company if you can be reimbursed. If your insurance provider requires proof that the supplies are necessary for the medical treatment of your HS wounds, your doctor or dermatologist can help.

“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 specific reimbursement processes and requirements, so start by giving them a call. You can also ask your dermatologist for guidance.

Dr. Riley described the standard process for reimbursement:

1. Decide which wound care supplies you need, and then find a wound care supply company covered by your insurance.
2. Send the necessary documentation to your insurance company.
3. After you receive confirmation your purchase will be covered, place your order.

“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.

4. Seek Bandaging Recommendations From Others With HS

When trying to bandage a tricky area like your inner thighs, you may need to experiment with different products until you find a solution that works for you. After lots of trial and error, members of myHSteam have shared tips such as these for bandaging HS lesions on the inner thighs:

• “I used an Ace bandage loosely wrapped around my inner thigh.”
• “They’re pricey, but I like the waterproof bandages. They’re much slicker than regular Band-Aids, and the surrounding skin is happier for it.”
• “I order large boxes of abdominal pads from Amazon to help control mine because I have a lot of drainage on my inner thighs. It’s extremely helpful, and I change them about two or three times a day, depending on the activity level of drainage.”

“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: “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.”

One myHSTeam member has used that strategy: “On the odd occasion I’ve had lesions on my inner thighs, I wrap all the way round the leg!”

5. Talk to Your Doctor About Bandaging Tips

Be sure to ask your dermatologist about other tips for bandaging the inner thighs so that you can develop a wound care routine that works for you. They can help you troubleshoot challenges based on what is or isn’t working. For example, is the adhesive not sticking? Do you need more absorbent dressings? Does the tape irritate hair follicles or make HS symptoms worse? Take notes as challenges arise, then bring them up to your dermatologist and talk solutions.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myHSteam, the social network for people with hidradenitis suppurativa, more than 43,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Do you have tips on bandaging HS lesions on the inner thighs? What else do you do to keep the area as comfortable as possible? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.