I don't really have any clothing limitations as mine is well hidden (Groin, Labia, Buttocks)
So I can still go swimming, and put on a bathing suit. Etc. I still wear shorts, jeans, tank tops, etc. I often opt for more comfortable clothing though, those with an elastic waist band and soft cotton.

Mine is also located mainly in the groin area, but I also stay away from jeans as they tend to rub and cause sweating. I also get them under my breasts so no underwires for me. And my patches of HS down below are pretty extensive - it is a nightmare trying to find lingerie that looks appealing. So discouraging!

I think you are correct that sleeveless / tank tops would be good for your symptoms. Air circulation and maybe even sunlight would be great. Can you begin by wearing tanks when you are just at home around the house? Then no one would see but you can get all the benefits of the air exposure and get used to seeing how you look in a sleeveless top.

As for going out in public, it's hard, no lie. I try to remind myself that other people are far less interested in what I look like than I fear they will be, I'm less interesting than I imagine. And even if people do notice... so what? I have every right to exist. I have a disease. If they don't want to see my HS they don't have to look.

That's on my good days though :)

I used to be really self conscious while wearing tank tops or dresses. I would try to never raise my arms so people would not be able to see my scars and bumps. But then I said screw it. And you know what? Most people do not even notice. It does help greatly with air circulation. If you can as well, when you are home, wear as little as possible. At night especially. I do not know if I have just reached a point where my HS is in a remission state but I get very few breakouts under my arms now.I still get them under my breasts but there seems to be very little I can do about that. I also have been using the Crystal spray deodorant for the past year and that seems to have helped immensely. Good luck and I am sure you will find a comfort level that fits!

I do wear tank tops while at home, and wear as little as possible while at home. I spend a great deal of my time in scrubs, but when I'm not working it's t-shirts. So I never get any kind of good circulation or sun exposure. I know if I was in a tank top I wouldn't sweat as much which would greatly help.

"Here is my thing, I'm so afraid to wear one and people see the HS problem. Most people think I won't wear a tank top because I don't like my fat arms, when in all reality it is because of the HS."

That sentence right there describes my whole life! My under arms haven't been TOO bad lately but I still don't really wear tank tops. I mean I do water aerobics so when I'm in a bathing suit and have to raise my arms I get self conscious. Lately I've kinda had this whole "Oh well, it is what it is" attitude. My thighs are like my under arms...never know when they will break out so my bathing suits usually have a skirt on them. I do wear shorts without any problems though and I love blue jeans (if they fit right). So just do your thing and know that nearly as many people would be looking as you assume. :)

To get a little personal I started dating a new guy a few months ago. He probably assumes the "lights out" rule is because of my weight...it's not! :))

That was supposed to say NOT** nearly as many people would be looking as you assume.

Just like you I wear very little while i am at home. I have not had any bumps under my arms in quite some time but now they are coming back after 6 years without any. I wear underwire bras as well even though there is still rubbing that irritates them so at home its a no bra zone! I am still trying to find underwear that do not irritate my groin area. I have about 2-3 in the bikini line area that drain constantly and get all over my underwear so at night i try to sleep without them in hopes that they will heal. Luckily the open ones have not gotten infected yet. I have had to stay home multiple times from work this year due to my HS - 4 days because of the back of my neck, and about 3 days due to thighs and under the breast. I sometimes find that tight fitting clothing like the jeggings you mentioned feels better on the thighs than like loose soft dress pants. I hate being in a bathing suit due to the extent of my scars and bumps proceeding down my things but i found one that has a skirt bottom that helps a little bit. I am lucky in that my boyfriend is very supportive and he acts like it doesn't bother him even though i know it does sometimes. I find it helps me to share with him when i am having a bad break out rather than hide it from him. I am lucky to have found this forum because i don't know anyone else who has HS so it is nice to be able to relate to each other's issue and know i am not alone (which i feel often!). I go through times where i just don't care and other times i get quite depressed about it because i can remember when my body did not look like this and to think it is only going to continue and the scars multiplying is very worrysome. Thanks for letting me vent!

I've found the most comfortable underwear to be the microfiber boy shorts. No pinching or rubbing, and they help hold the gauze when I have drainage issues.

I actually wear MOSTLY jeans on the bottom because of my open sores...I have to wear panty liners in my actual pants to stop the ooze from going through my clothes and onto my office chair. :( The panty liners don't like to stick properly to most fabrics for some reason and get all bunched up on most other things. And of course anything sleeveless is out and skirts are out because again, there has to be something to put the panty liners on.

This disease really sucks.

Mostly at home I wear nothing but a loose fitting nightie and I also agree that I like jeggings or tight fitting yoga pants/tights, I never wear jeans it hurts too much and rubs. As soon as I walk in the door the bra comes off so the rubbings stops and it doesn't help that I absolutely have to wear a bra because my breasts are sooo big but I hate how it rubs and irritates any sores I have. I'm lucky that my bottocks is relatively untouched by this disease so I don't have to worry about seepage in that area. Also I find that the band aids for blisters stick to almost any area of your body without being too bulky and looking weird under tight fitting clothing. It also helps the draining but they don't really fit over the big sores. And I as well only wear bathing suits with skirt bottoms.

Wow this is so timely!! I too have always dealt with wondering what people would say or think if they saw my scars I have hs scars and surgery scars in my groin area, underarms, thighs, and underneath my breasts so yeah basically everywhere!!

I am now at a stage in my life that I dont give a d*mn anymore about what people might think or say I moved to Suriname 2 years ago (a country in south america next to Brazil the climate is humid and hot as it is the amazon rain forest) I am in constant pain due to the humidity and rubbing of my clothing causing flare ups constantly. No more jeans t shirts or any kind of tight fitting clothes for me! I am building a new wardrobe consisting of tank tops wide shirts and blouses (so the seams do not touch me), long skirts and harem pants. At home i usually wear a sarong without underwear or large boxers at least 2 sizes up. I have decided to start using washable pads during my menses because normal pads make it far far worse. My biggest concern now are bra's I have a size 34 F so no bra is no option. I have considered breast reduction but needless to explain here that having surgery again and not knowing how my hs will behave during healing I am more than hesitant. Pls share any kind of advice possible on this topic and TY topicstarter for opening this thread.