1. Community
  2. Skin and nails
  3. Hidradenitis Suppurativa

HS draining smells, what should I do?

Posted , 6 users are following.

alexis2016
alexis2016

I am 18 and in high school and have had HS for 5 years. It's gotten worse in the last few months and the drainage stinks and no matter what I do, I smell it and I'm worried my classmates do too. I clean the drainage with soapy antibacterial soap and shaved the area (I know you're not supposed to but I feel like whatever drains sticks to the hair and stays there). It's still pretty bad and now it hurts to lift my arm because my armpit is open and draining. My doctor doesn't want to give me a refferal to a dermatologist, she thinks taking me off of the depo shot will help with weight loss and in turn it'll go down. It's stressful, I want to finish my senior year in peace but I can't because I have constant anxiety that my classmates smell my drainage and my arm hurts so bad. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated!!

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • anna1991
    anna1991 alexis2016

    Posted

    Whenever I have had drainage or even a lump come up before it drains I have been referred for surgery and had the lump taken out and all the pus cleaned away. as for the draining i know how horrible it can be when you get drainage coming onto your clothes, I also have my HS in my armpit. best advice I can give is to regularly clean the area and while you're at school cover the area with a piece of gauze and then cover it all with a dressing so that the smell can be aomewhat masked and while you are in school the drainage can be caught in the gauze. really hope this helps you and I do sympathise! Here if u need a further chat smile
  • JohnnieK
    JohnnieK alexis2016

    Posted

    First I want to tell you how sorry I am about you being so young and having this. It is bad no matter what age, but at your age it is even more stressful. You stated that your GP doesn't want to refer you to specialists. Yes weight loss will help and the shot aides in gaining weight. But you already have the sinus tracts and pus. I have it bad under my arms. The best thing I have did to decrease the smell is 1. Keep area good and clean. 2 keep hands away from it.3 . I shouldn't but every other day I take a needle and push the pus an dirt out clean my hole's. Then I peroxide them out. That is what has pretty much helped me. And good antiperspirant. The doctor tho should refer you because of flare-ups and rest of the stuff that comes with this
  • Ingoldsby
    Ingoldsby alexis2016

    Posted

    I found slapping a on bit of vicks useful as long as it is not to strong people tend to ignore the familier smell. Also change the the dressing often. I put a stong tape on my skin and then tape the dressing to the skin tape. Dressing changes are quick and pain free.
  • MrsLamb16
    MrsLamb16 alexis2016

    Posted

    Hi there, I am 22 years old and have been struggling with HS since I was 11. It is a very topugh thing to live with, but I have learned that putting band aids on my open wounds help with the nasty smells, and extra leakage going onto my clothes. Change the bandaids at least every 3 hours depending on how heavy the drainage is. Once it stops draining, put some Peroxide on your open wound let it bubble and clean. Using BioCleanse in the shower helps with open wounds as well, it cleans the area and gets all the bad smells out as well. I hope this helps you! 
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.