Hidradenitis Suppurativa Support Group

Some say it is - The trouble with HS is not many people even know about it.
My immune is shot to bits. Belonging to Forums for HS over the years it seems a great many people have many other illness's and they put those down to links with HS. Only if you are infected - steer away from anti-biotics, they do not cure HS and you never know when you will really need to take them.If you have any other questions, feel free to ask - I can oly go on what I have experienced and been told by others. For some reason HS can go into remission for quite long periods. Stress is one major contriobutor to this disease. Ask around in your family - it seems to be hereditary. And don't be ashamed & hide this awful disease from people, it's a disease just like any other.
I've always maintained a very high standard of Hygiene - washing, bathing etc as many times a day as poss. this seems to stop other nasties developing.

I am not sure but personally I've always been somewhat healthy besides this but the longer i have an outbreak the more tired i feel. Almost like my body is constantly fighting off an infection. I rarely get colds never had the flu. But yesterday i came down with a terrible Cold still not sure what it is but Ive been living on NyQuil and antihistamines. I do think that HS does have a link with Lowering a persons Immune system when outbreaks happen.

From everything that has been written and recent findings, HS IS an auto-immune disease. To find out more, please look up hs-usa.org or come join the yahoo support group where you will meet many others with HS and have the support and advice you want and need when you need it. They are a great binch of people and there are over 4000 members - we are not alone! The yahoo group can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hidr...
Hoping you are pain free today!
Hugs from Hamilton, ON
Angel

I believe is an autoimmune problem. I had a Hs flare since June with 4 surgeries. Last was this past Frid. Now i discovered alopecia areata on my head. Last time was in 2001. Both things are here together. It is extremely depressing and frustrating.

I am not sure I can add much more that the other replies, excpet my own experiences.
From my research the "experts" seem to "think" there might be an autoimmune component but they have yet to prove it. The research indicates a tendency/possibility to also have Crones (sp?)Disease, Celiac disorder (intestinal), rheumotoid arthrists (sp?) and others.

My HS was not diagnosed for over 40+ years while I also suffered from endometriosis and adenomyosis which are autoimmune diseases. So aparently this HS in tandum with other issues is not all that unusual.

My present goal is to try to strengthen my immune system through a healthy balanced lifestyle; adequate nutrition, vitamins, less work and more play, enough rest and sleep, yoga, exercise etc. I might not be able to control the HS but I can control what goes into my body and how I treat it!

Good luck and keep the faith.

Donna in Michigan

That's a good question. You say you have psoriasis? I have Excema and a long list of food allergies. I had often wondered this, too.

What I've read on the research that has come out the UK is HS is linked with other autoimmune disorders or to people with a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disorders.
I have a few myself. Type I diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and I've have a history of thyroid disease.

I've had HS for over 10 years now. I've had 2 surgeries, in the 1990s but I didn't know what I had until recently. My docs always thought it was a type of acne or that my hygiene was lacking. It's so good to know that it is a real disease and that it's nothing that I did wrong. I also suffer from high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I have a very stressful life as I am the only custodian for my elderly mother who suffers from Parkinsons and early stage Alzheimers. I have one child who is very needy as she has no real marketable skills and two children. She (my daughter) looks to me any time she has a financial crisis, which happens quite frequently, and I feel guilty for not being a better mother. Dang, I have issues!

I too have prosiasis and recently diognised with HS.Also had my first surgery to my right arm.it is very frustrating.

It's not known conclusively, but personally I think yes. I think that some kind of blockage occurs in the skin, in either a sweat gland or duct, or a hair follicle, and the body over-reacts with an out of proportion immune response, causing the swelling and outbreak. Bacterial infections are secondary. If you could find a way to quickly and topically (locally) immediately stop the inflammation, I think that this would help a lot. This is why I think that Bactroban helps me, because it has a quick, local anti-inflammatory effect.