My patient came in asking about painful boils that keep appearing in her armpits, groin and bottom. This is what I told her

1. Recurrent pimples, boils or lumps in your armpits, inner thighs, bottom, groin or under breasts can represent a skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) 2. Many people live with this condition for years before getting diagnosed. It is not contagious. 3. An effective over the counter treatment is Resorcinol cream twice a day (one example is Resinol). It is a cream-peel that opens clogged follicles and side effects include irritation. It takes 3-4 months to see effect 4. Many treatments are available from your dermatologist including topical therapies, antibiotics, biologics, spironolactone, laser hair removal, surgery or injections. Stopping smoking may improve your response to these medicines. 5. Some people with hidradenitis suppurativa have a higher risk of developing a common type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. #hidradenitissuppurativa #dermatologist #skintok