Your HS can affect more than your skin. Painful lumps, drainage and scarring can make everyday activities such as walking, exercising, dressing or working feel more challenging.
Your daily routine can help you manage HS more comfortably. By noticing symptom patterns, protecting affected skin and preparing for flares, you may reduce some of the disruption HS causes and feel more prepared.
Why Can HS Feel Different From One Day to the Next?
You may have days when HS is relatively settled and others when pain, swelling or drainage suddenly changes what you can do. Your routine may need to stay flexible so you can adjust clothing, dressings or activity without expecting every day to look the same.
You can use symptom patterns to plan ahead, but you do not need to blame yourself when a flare appears without an obvious reason. If changes are becoming more frequent or disruptive, your healthcare team can review whether treatment needs adjusting.
What Should You Do When an HS Lesion Starts Draining?
Your HS drainage can be difficult to manage, especially when it happens unexpectedly. Using appropriate dressings and following your healthcare professional’s wound-care advice can help protect your skin and clothing.
You should avoid repeatedly squeezing or pressing a draining HS lesion, as this can increase pain, irritation and skin trauma. Keeping spare dressings with you may also help you feel more prepared when drainage occurs.
UK Guidance Note
NHS advice recognises that hidradenitis suppurativa can have a significant effect on everyday life because of pain, discomfort and the need for regular dressing changes. Treatment may include medicines and, when HS cannot be adequately controlled with medication, surgery may sometimes be considered. If HS is becoming harder to manage or is affecting your wellbeing, speak to your healthcare team rather than relying on self-care alone.
How Can You Make Dressing Changes Easier?
You may find dressing changes easier when the products match the amount of drainage and the area affected by HS. Your healthcare professional can help you choose options that protect the skin while staying comfortable.
Your supplies can also be organised at home or carried as a small kit when you go out. If drainage is increasing or dressings are becoming harder to manage, speak to your healthcare team.
Evidence Note
There is no single dressing that works best for everyone with HS. Current European guidance recommends choosing wound dressings according to factors such as the affected area, the amount of drainage, absorbency, dressing fixation and individual preferences. Non-adherent or absorbent dressings may be useful in some situations, but wound care should be personalised.
How Can You Reduce Friction During an HS Flare?
You may notice an HS flare feels more painful when skin rubs against skin or clothing. Your choice of looser, softer clothing can help you reduce pressure and irritation in affected areas.
Your best approach is to notice what makes your own symptoms worse. Small changes, such as choosing different underwear or exercise clothing during a flare, can help you stay more comfortable.
What Should Your Everyday Skin-Care Routine Look Like?
Your HS is not caused by poor hygiene, so harsh scrubbing or aggressive washing will not improve it. A gentle and consistent skin-care routine can help reduce irritation and protect your sensitive areas.
Your dermatologist can guide you on suitable washes and products. You should avoid anything that causes burning, dryness or irritation and gently pat the skin dry after washing.
Can You Exercise When You Have HS?
You do not need to stop exercising because of HS. Staying active can support your overall health, but you may need to adjust activities when heat, sweating, pressure or friction makes symptoms more uncomfortable.
Your exercise routine should fit your symptoms. Choosing breathable clothing, exercising in cooler conditions and adapting your activity during flares can help you stay comfortable.
Practical Ways to Manage Common HS Problems
| Everyday problem | Practical approach | When to seek advice |
| Drainage | Use an appropriate absorbent dressing and carry spares if helpful | If drainage suddenly increases, changes significantly or is difficult to contain |
| Friction | Choose softer, looser clothing and reduce rubbing over active areas | If ordinary movement is becoming painful or skin damage is worsening |
| Sweating and moisture | Change damp clothing and keep affected areas as comfortable and dry as practical | If moisture is repeatedly causing skin breakdown or worsening symptoms |
| Pain during activity | Modify exercise or movement during flares rather than forcing through severe pain | If pain is persistent, severe or limiting normal activity |
| Recurrent flares | Keep notes or photographs of changes and follow the agreed treatment plan | If flares are becoming more frequent, severe or harder to control |
| Work or travel disruption | Carry dressings, spare clothing and necessary medicines/supplies | If HS is consistently interfering with work, sleep, travel or daily functioning |
How Can You Manage Sweating and Heat?
You may notice HS symptoms feel worse with heat, sweating and moisture, especially where skin rubs together. Your clothing choices can help you stay more comfortable if you change damp items promptly and choose breathable fabrics.
Your goal is not to avoid sweating completely but to manage situations that trigger irritation. Cooling down when possible and protecting affected areas can help you feel more comfortable.
Research Insight
Research into day-to-day HS self-management is still less developed than research into medicines and surgery. Current European guidance supports personalised wound care, minimising friction and maintaining physical activity where possible, while also recognising that evidence for several lifestyle interventions remains limited. This means self-care should complement medical treatment rather than replace it.
What Clothes Are Most Comfortable With HS?
Your most comfortable clothing choices will depend on where your HS affects you and what causes irritation. Loose, breathable clothing may help reduce rubbing and pressure during flares.
Your goal is not to replace your entire wardrobe, but to choose clothes that help you feel more comfortable. Paying attention to seams, underwear and spare clothing can make daily life easier.
How Can You Manage HS at Work?
HS can make your working day more difficult when pain, drainage or discomfort affects sitting, standing or moving. You can plan for your most common symptoms so you feel more prepared if a flare develops at work.
- Keep Spare Dressings Available: You can carry suitable dressings with you so that you are prepared if drainage increases during your working day.
- Bring Spare Clothing: You may find it helpful to keep a change of clothing available in case drainage affects what you are wearing.
- Reduce Uncomfortable Movement: You can adjust activities where possible if prolonged sitting, standing or repeated movement increases pressure or friction on affected areas.
- Plan Around Difficult Flares: You may need to adapt your routine temporarily when pain or drainage makes your usual working activities more uncomfortable.
- Speak to Your Healthcare Team: You should discuss persistent work-related difficulties with your healthcare team, particularly if pain, drainage or repeated flares are becoming harder to manage.
Preparing for the symptoms that affect you most can make HS at work easier to manage. If pain, drainage or repeated flares regularly disrupt your day, you should discuss them with your healthcare team rather than trying to manage alone.
What Can You Do When You Need to Travel?
Your HS does not have to stop you from travelling, but preparing for possible flares can make your journey easier. Carry enough dressings, spare clothing and any essential supplies you may need.
Your travel plans can also include ways to reduce discomfort, such as taking breaks during long journeys and keeping your wound-care items easy to access. A little preparation can help you feel more confident while away from home.
How Can You Handle Odour and Leakage Away From Home?
You may find that drainage or odour feels especially stressful when you are away from home, even when the flare itself is familiar. Your dressing choice can help you manage leakage more discreetly, while spare clothing and a small bag for used supplies can make unexpected changes easier to handle.
You should avoid repeatedly scrubbing the area or applying strongly fragranced products just to mask odour, because irritated skin may become more uncomfortable. If drainage or odour changes noticeably from your usual pattern, you can ask your healthcare team whether the wound needs review.
Clinical Tip
If HS is affecting work, exercise, sleep or travel, make a short note of exactly what is difficult rather than simply saying your symptoms are “worse”. For example, record whether pain prevents sitting, drainage requires several dressing changes or a flare stops you walking comfortably. Specific examples can help your healthcare team understand how much HS is affecting your daily life.
How Should You Manage a Difficult HS Flare?
Your HS flare can be frustrating, but changing many treatments at once may make it harder to know what helps. Keep your routine simple, follow your treatment plan and avoid things that increase friction or irritation.
Your healthcare professional may suggest measures to ease discomfort, such as applying a warm flannel or temporarily reducing activities that increase pressure or friction over a painful area. If your flares are becoming more frequent or difficult to manage, speak to your dermatologist.
How Can You Prepare an HS Flare Kit?
Your HS flare kit can help you feel more prepared when symptoms suddenly worsen. Keeping your recommended dressings, spare clothing and other useful supplies together can make managing drainage easier.
Your kit should match your own needs rather than include every product available. If you keep the essentials together, you can respond to an unexpected flare without searching for supplies.
How Can You Manage Social Activities When You Have HS?
Your HS may sometimes make social situations feel difficult because of pain, drainage or concerns about how others may react. These worries are common, but they do not mean you need to stop doing the things you enjoy.
Your activities can be adapted around your symptoms. Choosing comfortable settings and sharing your experience with trusted people can help you feel more confident while managing HS.
How Can HS Affect Your Sleep?
You may find that pain, drainage or pressure makes it harder to get comfortable at night. Your sleeping position, clothing and dressing choice can sometimes be adjusted so you reduce rubbing on sensitive areas without turning bedtime into a complicated routine.
You should tell your healthcare team if HS regularly disturbs sleep or repeated dressing changes wake you. Keeping a short note of what interrupts rest can help your healthcare team understand the impact on daily functioning.
How Can You Build a Simple Day-to-Day HS Routine?
Your HS routine does not need to be complicated. Simple steps such as choosing comfortable clothing, following your treatment plan and managing dressings when needed can help you feel more prepared.
Your routine should fit your daily life and symptoms. Small, consistent habits can help you notice changes, reduce irritation and manage flares without making HS take over your day.
When Should You Seek Medical Advice?
Your HS may have a familiar pattern, but worsening pain, significantly increased drainage, spreading redness, increasing swelling or wounds that are not healing should be assessed by a healthcare professional. If you develop a fever or feel significantly unwell alongside rapidly worsening skin symptoms, seek prompt medical advice.
Your dermatologist can review treatment if flares are becoming more frequent or affecting daily life. You can keep notes or photographs so you have clear examples to discuss at your appointment.
Myth vs Fact
| Myth | Fact |
| HS happens because you do not wash properly. | HS is a chronic inflammatory skin condition and is not caused by poor hygiene. Harsh scrubbing can irritate already sensitive skin rather than prevent HS. |
| You should squeeze an HS lump to help it drain. | Squeezing or repeatedly pressing an HS lesion can increase pain and skin trauma. If a lesion drains naturally, protect the area with appropriate wound care and seek advice if symptoms are worsening. |
| You need to stop exercising if you have HS. | Many people can remain active with HS. Activities may need to be adapted during flares, particularly if heat, rubbing or pressure makes symptoms uncomfortable. |
| There is one type of dressing that is best for everyone with HS. | Dressing needs vary according to the location of the lesion, the amount of drainage and the sensitivity of the surrounding skin. Wound care should be personalised. |
| Lifestyle changes can replace medical HS treatment. | Practical changes can make daily symptoms easier to manage, but they do not replace medical treatment when HS is active, persistent or progressing. |
| Every flare can be managed at home. | Familiar mild flares may sometimes be managed using your existing treatment plan, but rapidly worsening pain, spreading redness, fever, unusual swelling or wounds that are not healing should be medically assessed. |
Key Takeaways
- HS is not caused by poor hygiene, and aggressive washing or scrubbing can worsen irritation.
- Dressings should be chosen according to drainage, location and comfort rather than using the same product for every lesion.
- Reducing friction, adapting clothing and modifying exercise during painful flares can make daily activities more manageable.
- Self-care measures support HS treatment but do not replace medical review when disease is persistent, worsening or difficult to control.
- Keeping spare dressings, clothing and necessary supplies can make work and travel easier during unpredictable drainage.
- Pain, emotional distress, work difficulties and social effects are important parts of HS care and should be discussed with your healthcare team.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you use deodorant or antiperspirant if you have HS?
There is not enough evidence to recommend one specific deodorant or antiperspirant for everyone with HS. You can avoid products that sting or irritate your skin and ask your dermatologist for advice if the area is repeatedly becoming sore.
2. Should you shave skin that is affected by HS?
NHS and BAD advice recommends avoiding shaving directly over affected HS skin because it can add irritation or trauma. You can ask your healthcare team about safer hair-removal options if shaving is causing repeated problems.
3. Do you need to follow a special diet for HS?
Current European guidance does not support one specific HS diet because the evidence for individual dietary changes is limited. You can focus on a balanced approach and discuss any major dietary change with your healthcare team rather than removing several foods without clear reason.
4. Can an HS support group be useful?
Yes. A support group can give you a place to share practical experiences with people who understand the day-to-day impact of HS. You can use peer support alongside medical care, particularly if the condition is affecting your confidence, work or relationships.
5. What can you do if HS is affecting intimacy or relationships?
HS can affect confidence, comfort and relationships, especially when pain, drainage or scarring makes you feel self-conscious. You can raise these concerns with your healthcare team so the impact on your personal life is considered as part of your care.
6. What if adhesive dressings irritate your skin?
You may need a different dressing or fixation method if adhesive repeatedly irritates the surrounding skin. Your healthcare professional can help you consider non-adherent or more skin-friendly options based on the wound location, drainage and sensitivity.
7. Does drainage from HS always mean the area is infected?
No. Drainage can occur as part of HS itself and does not automatically mean there is an infection. You should seek medical advice if drainage changes markedly or is accompanied by rapidly worsening pain, spreading redness, increasing swelling, fever or feeling significantly unwell.
8. Can clothing be used to help keep HS dressings in place?
Some dressings can be held in place with suitable clothing or garment-based systems rather than relying only on adhesive. You can ask your healthcare team which fixation method is practical for the body area affected and the amount of drainage.
9. Can HS make you feel unusually tired?
HS can affect sleep, comfort and daily functioning, and fatigue is an important symptom to mention during review. You should tell your healthcare team if tiredness is persistent or worsening so they can consider whether HS or another health issue may be contributing.
10. What should you do if HS pain is difficult to control?
If HS pain is persistent or interfering with sleep, movement or work, you should discuss it with your healthcare team rather than relying only on day-to-day adjustments. Your healthcare team can review whether the condition is being controlled adequately and whether you need a more specific pain management plan.
Final Thoughts: Making Day-to-Day Life With HS More Manageable
Living with hidradenitis suppurativa can affect your comfort, confidence and daily routine, but practical changes can make symptoms easier to manage. You can reduce friction, prepare for flares and follow your treatment plan so you feel more prepared day to day.
If you’re looking to consult a dermatologist in London, you can get in touch with London Dermatology Centre.
References:
- Gambalunga, F., Lora, V., Marzo, C., Molinaro, S., Pantaleo, F., Latina, R., Bolgeo, T., Dellafiore, F., Petrone, F. et al. (2026) ‘Quality of life in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: A scoping review’, Nursing Reports, 16(8), article 289. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/16/8/289
- Moloney, S., McGrath, B.M., Roshan, D. and Gethin, G. (2022) ‘The personal impact of daily wound care for hidradenitis suppurativa’, Dermatology, 238(4), pp. 762–771. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34929704/
- Zouboulis, C.C. et al. (2025) ‘European S2k guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa part 2: Treatment’, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 39(5), pp. 899–941. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12023723/
- Daveluy, S. and Okoye, G.A. (2024) ‘Quality of life and the patient journey in hidradenitis suppurativa’, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 91(6 Suppl), pp. S8–S11. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962224028317
- Howells, L. et al. (2025) ‘A qualitative interview study exploring patients’ views and experiences of treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa in the UK’, British Journal of Dermatology, 193(1), pp. 85–92. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article/193/1/85/8088370