Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes abscess, boils and draining wounds near hair follicles on skin folds and sweat glands.
A recent study by the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas found that about one percent of the global population, or about one in 100 people, suffer from the condition.
Episode One: Michael Spitzer
On the first episode of the “Living with HS” podcast, Michael Spitzer, a 41-year-old patient who has been experiencing symptoms since he was a teen but wasn’t diagnosed until his early twenties, shares his challenges and how he perseveres.
“A lot of HS patients have what’s called social isolation,” he said. “I personally had it, and I had to pull myself out of that.”
Episode Two: Dana Jimenez
Dating with Hidradenitis Suppurativa can be difficult for some people. In this episode, a 28-year-old recent participation in the University of Miami AviClear laser treatment talks more about dating lifts with HS.
Dana shares more about already being in a relationship when she was first diagnosed with HS. For Dana, she found herself surrounded by love and support when first diagnosed, making it easier to navigate the dating life.
Before being diagnosed, Dana worked on body positivity following many social media accounts who promoted body positivity. After being diagnosed, she started to follow social media accounts that supported patients with HS.
