I literally thought I was one of few people who suffered from this terrible skin condition , and cryed reading some of your stories because I can totally relate I'm 23 years old and it sure has been a rough ride 

It all started around the time I started menstruation about 12 I would get a few here and there under my arms , it progressed to my thighs I seen mutiple doctors who prescribed me doxycyclin which literally caused a black spot on my tounge and didn't work. I've been prescibed minocycline helped a little wasnt worth taking. I hate taking medication. I went to a dermatoligist who didnt help either. Over the years I would just go on depressed in pain and confused. I always tryed to hide my condition but more my depression. I tryed to pay attention to my body as i got older and the hs got worse. I was finally diagnosed about 18 when I was pregnant with my first child thank God the doctor had minimal knowledge about it he tryed to prescribe me metformin people take it who have diabetes he said it would work on the hs after long term use. It made me very sick again I hate meds never took it again hoping to find a natural alternative.

The hs just got worse when I was prego and when it was close to that time of the month. So for me my hormones definitely are involved. Suprisingly I stopped getting them on my thighs about 20 but my armpits were literally ruined by this time. I've had to have some lanced wich I literally cryed it hurt so bad. I'm very light I have no scarring on my thighs but they are dark always has made me feel ugly but I've never had a problem with men,  Good looking men. I just try to hide it my first serious bf of 5 years seen it all didn't bother him one bit. My bf now of 3 years I really don't think he's ever noticed I don't tell him about my under arms because it's embarrassing. I keep them covered and clean I never wear tank tops even when it's hell outside wich makes me very sad I only choose like short or long sleeve shirts.

Life has been hard dealing with pain everyday I've lost jobs due to this, I loose sleep due to pain there has been days where giving my kids a bath was 2 painful for me cause of my arms. I couldn't even do my job as a mom or gf when the breakouts under my arm were bad and the emotional toll has been bad for me, sometimes I look in the mirror before I shower at the hs and cry I hate it and I'm sooo tired if dealing with it.

But in the past year I have found some things I've noticed that help well first off ibuprofen has saved my life I take it alot when I'm in pain to get through the days sometimes it doesn't take all the pain away but most, this is the only pain reliever that works for me. But the biggest help has been HIBICLENS soap that you can find at Walmart or walgreens it is a antiseptic/antimicrobial skin cleanser I have found this to help me dramatically and also taking at least 2 showers a day morning and night sometimes I'll even do 3 showers a day just to feel clean and content I use it every shower and pat dry I have noticed it really works I don't have to worry about odor and the hs does not flare up as I've seen in the past it comes but no where near what I've been dealing with before hibiclens . I hope I could help someone