When you’ve got hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), then you already know the lumps, abscesses, and fluid-filled bumps it may well trigger are a nightmare to cope with. And the aftermath is commonly worse. As a result of HS is a power, inflammatory pores and skin situation, the deep scars it may well go away behind aren’t any joke—you may discover it arduous to maneuver simply, put on sure sorts of garments, or simply stay a pain-free life.1
There’s an added layer of complexity when you’re an individual of coloration. Black ladies, particularly, have a better danger of HS. Whereas anybody can develop darker areas after their pores and skin is broken or injured—generally known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—this tends to be extra noticeable in individuals who have extra melanin, which is the substance that provides your pores and skin its coloration.2,3 Destineé Spurell, 28, had her first HS lesion beneath her armpit at round 11 or 12 years previous, and now she has scars in that space which are “very darkish in comparison with [the rest of] my pores and skin.”
Fortunately, there are methods to forestall and deal with HS scars, however some approaches work higher than others. Right here’s what it is advisable know, in accordance with the specialists and folks with HS we talked to.
1. See a dermatologist as early as you may.
HS lesions are likely to go a lot deeper than your on a regular basis wounds, Pooja Sodha, MD, assistant professor at George Washington College of Drugs and Well being Sciences and director of the Middle for Laser and Beauty Dermatology, tells SELF.4 Some folks with the situation develop pores and skin tunnels, also called sinus tracts, which may open up, leak fluid, and trigger scars. To sluggish that course of down, you need to ideally get began on a remedy plan as early as potential.
That may be simpler stated than executed, provided that disgrace, stigma, misdiagnoses, and an absence of medical health insurance (or different boundaries to care) can delay remedy.5 On common, it takes medical doctors longer to precisely diagnose Black folks with HS in comparison with white folks—about 5 years versus three years, respectively.6 Shannon Marie Akins, now 29, skilled her first HS flare-up in her genital space and armpit when she was 13, however she was afraid to inform anybody as a result of she wasn’t certain what was occurring. After finally speaking about it together with her mom, it nonetheless took a very long time to determine. “I used to be out and in of medical doctors for years,” she tells SELF.
You may’t management well being care suppliers who dismiss and/or misdiagnose you—a number of them might not acknowledge HS signs on darker pores and skin tones, particularly within the early phases—however when you assume you might have the situation, discovering a dermatologist who is aware of the way to deal with folks of coloration might be actually validating.
Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist who’s the director of the Pores and skin of Coloration Division for the College of Miami Division of Dermatology and an lively member of the Pores and skin of Coloration Society, tells SELF she spends a number of time reassuring those who HS flare-ups aren’t their fault and inspiring them to get the specialised care they deserve—the earlier, the higher. “HS is a particularly difficult pores and skin situation,” she says. Whereas there’s no fast repair or single method that can provide help to keep away from scars fully, early remedy can assist, she says.
2. Attempt antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Widespread HS remedies, together with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and hormonal medicines like oral contraceptives can assist tamp down, and even stop, the irritation that results in scars.7 “The sooner you begin, the much less probability of scarring even changing into a difficulty,” Dr. Sodha says.