Semaglutide Blindness, Salt-Sodium Myths, Overcoming OCD (Ask Me Anything!) Click An Icon Below To Subscribe In this Ask Me Anything episode of The Art of Being Well, my functional medicine team and I are tackling your biggest health and wellness questions. Is Ozempic linked to blindness, and should you be worried? How does functional medicine…
Despite what Instagram and photo filters would have us think, no one has perfectly smooth skin over the entirety of their body. We’re all prone to the occasional bump, rash, zit, or ingrown hair. These issues generally go away after the blocked follicle, clogged pore, or minor skin irritation resolves.
But hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is different. HS is a chronic, progressive skin condition that typically appears as boil-like lumps in some of your most sensitive regions (and beyond).
HS lumps or bumps can form interconnected tracts underneath the skin that may become inflamed and infected, causing discomfort and pain. Although infections are often a part of HS, the disease itself is not an infection — it’s due to an ongoing inflammatory response in the body.
In addition to causing pain and discomfort, HS can be extremely frustrating and impact your self-esteem. Identifying HS correctly and early is crucial for getting optimal care, easing symptoms, slowing disease progression, and improving your mental health.
While we don’t know what exactly causes HS, genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors may play a role. Skin regions prone to HS include those where we sweat often and where friction is super common. Friction can occur from skin rubbing on skin, or where clothing can chafe or rub.
Here are seven areas of the body that are often impacted by HS.
Armpits
Our underarms are packed with hair follicles and apocrine glands (aka, sweat glands). With HS, these follicles and glands may become clogged, and bacteria can start to grow, leading to the inflamed boil-like bumps of HS.
If you’ve ever gone for a run and come back with the dreaded armpit chafing, you’re all too familiar with how this area of the body can be prone to skin-on-skin friction or excessive rubbing from clothing. (Lookin’ at you, sports bra!) Friction and chafing can also cause an HS flare-up.
Complicating matters is that some people shave or wax their armpits, and many understandably slather this region with antiperspirants or deodorants. These factors can also clog or irritate sweat glands and hair follicles.
Breasts
The breasts, including underneath and even on the areolae (the area around the nipple), are a common place for HS to show up.
The breast area is a frequent spot for chafing from bras or other clothing. This chafing not only causes skin irritation — it can also trap sweat and bacteria on the skin. The areolae contain apocrine glands and hair follicles that can easily become infected. All these factors can contribute to an HS flare.
Research also points to sex hormones playing a role in HS, so a hormone shift or imbalance may also make breast tissue more prone to HS lesions. However, more research is needed on the connection between HS and hormones.
Groin
No one can deny that the crotch becomes a sweaty area when life gets steamy, either from the weather, a workout, or both. It’s also a common area for clothing to rub against just from walking and everyday movements.
As with other HS-prone areas, the groin and genital areas contain apocrine glands and oodles of hair follicles, all of which can become blocked as part of HS, leading to a flare. Speaking of hair down there, many people groom their pubic region, which can also lead to blocked hair follicles.
Again, hormonal shifts or imbalances may also play a role in why these sensitive areas can become hot spots for HS.
Inner thighs
The inner thighs are an extension of the groin area. Similarly, sweat also hangs out here, and it’s a common spot for chafing to occur from skin-on-skin friction, or from clothing rubbing and irritating the area.
Buttocks
The entire buttocks area is also prone to HS in many people. Areas commonly affected include the anus, the butt crack, and the gluteal fold — or the crease where the buttocks meet the backs of the upper thighs.
Apocrine glands and hair follicles are abundant here, too. Sweat and other bacteria sources can also lead to HS infections. The buttocks are also subjected to pressure from sitting, which can lead to further irritation.
Although more research is needed, some studies suggest a link between HS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is an umbrella term for conditions such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. The potential links between HS and IBD may play a role in why the buttocks area is a common site for HS.
Nape of the neck
Although less common than in other areas, HS can also show up at the nape of the neck. This might be due to friction from clothing collars, jewelry, and other clothing or accessories. The neck is also a common site for sweat, which could block hair follicles in this area.
Waistband area
If skin folds at the waist, or clothing waistbands (especially tight ones!) cause friction, it can lead to HS in the waistband area. As a result, HS lesions may show up on the abdomen, back, or sides.
tl;dr
HS tends to appear on some of the body’s most sensitive places, including the underarms, breasts, groin, and buttocks. These areas are prone to sweat, friction, and irritation from hair removal — all of which may contribute to an HS flare.
If you suspect you have HS, talk with a knowledgeable dermatologist who can give you a proper diagnosis and help you develop the right treatment and self-care plan to combat irritation and flares so you can feel more comfortable in your skin.
Read the full article here:
https://greatist.com/health/hidradenitis-suppurativa-on-the-body
February 28th 2025
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Wellness Mama Blog | Simple Answers for Healthier Families
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Last year, I had a small remodeling project that got a little out of hand. It eventually led to me remodeling my whole kitchen. That’s a story for another day and another blog post. However, I’m really grateful for some of the changes that came from this remodel, especially our new DIY charging drawer. I […]
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Wellness Mama Blog | Simple Answers for Healthier Families
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Conventional hair spray is one of the worst offenders when it comes to toxins in beauty products. It typically has aerosol, PFAS, VOCs and more. More companies are making safe alternatives, but I’ve discovered a way to make my own. This DIY hair spray is simple and really works! This natural alternative is easy to […]
In this episode of The Art of Being Well, I chat with Dr. Staci Whitman, a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist and founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry. Dr. Staci is redefining pediatric dental care with a functional, whole-body approach that goes beyond cavities and cleanings. We explore how oral health impacts hormone balance, sleep, and overall systemic health in children. Dr. Staci also explains why airway assessments are essential for growing kids, shares insights from her research on sleep and breathing, and offers practical advice for parents to help their kids develop lifelong healthy habits. If you’re a parent who wants to better understand the link between dental health and your child’s overall well-being, this episode is packed with valuable information.
Dr. Staci Whitman – Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and Functional Dentist, and is certified in Integrative and Naturopathic Dentistry
Dr. Staci Whitman, a leading authority in functional dentistry, is on a mission to revolutionize oral healthcare. With a unique blend of scientific expertise and compassionate care, she’s dedicated to creating a cavity-free world. Dr Staci is board-certified in pediatrics, integrative dentistry, and naturopathic dentistry and is one of the only dentists in the world to have her Functional Medicine Certification from the Institute of Functional Medicine. She founded one of the leading Functional Pediatric Dental offices in the country where she takes a whole-body and holistic approach to her care. She is the co-founder of the Institute for Functional Dentistry, launching in 2025, and lectures globally on Functional Dentistry and the Oral Systemic Connection.
With a passion for optimizing the oral microbiome, hormonal health, nutritional status, and sleep and airway health, she is a sought-after expert and educator with a heavy focus on preventative dentistry, cavity arrest and remineralization, and the oral-gut-brain axis. Tune in as Dr. Staci shares her knowledge and insights on creating happy teeth and healthy lives.
A few of my favorite things we cover in this episode:
Defining biological dentistry and functional dentistry—what sets them apart and where they overlap.
The connection between oral health and hormones—why your mouth plays a bigger role in overall health than you might think.
How oral pathogens can impact fertility in both men and women, including the latest scientific findings on sperm motility and reproductive health.
The most harmful bacteria disrupting the oral microbiome—and how they contribute to systemic health issues.
The best oral microbiome tests available today—what to look for and why diagnostics are evolving.
Understanding Candida overgrowth—why it’s more than just thrush and how it presents in clinical settings.
The fluoride debate—exploring its controversial links to thyroid issues, sleep disturbances, and cognitive health.
The history behind mass water fluoridation—why it started and why it remains a hot-button topic.
The benefits of mouth taping—how this simple technique can improve sleep and support oral health.
Links to things we talked about in this episode:
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