u/nigana14

Hi everyone,
I’m still waiting for my MRI results and an appointment with an HS specialist, so my diagnosis isn’t 100% confirmed yet, but my dermatologist suspects early HS.
I’m trying to understand whether what I’m experiencing is common.
My current symptoms are:
A small recurrent lesion on the hair-bearing skin of my left groin/vulvar area.
It doesn’t really hurt unless I press directly on it.
There’s still a little firmness under the skin.
No drainage.
No fever.
No obvious redness spreading around it.
Sometimes I get a feeling of heaviness or pressure rather than pain.
Occasionally it feels like the discomfort extends toward the perineum/anus, but because I had a cleft-lift surgery for pilonidal disease a few years ago, it’s hard to tell where the sensation is actually coming from.
My dermatologist has me on topical clindamycin and PanOxyl wash, and overall the lesion seems smaller than it was a few days ago.
For those with HS:
Do your lesions ever become mostly painless except when you press on them?
Do you ever have a feeling of heaviness or pressure instead of constant pain?
During a flare, does it sometimes feel like the discomfort radiates toward the anus or surrounding area even if the lesion itself is small?
How long does it usually take for a flare like this to completely settle?
I’m not looking for a diagnosis—just wondering if others have experienced something similar.

Hi everyone,
I’m a 33-year-old woman and I’m honestly feeling overwhelmed and hoping to hear from people who may have been through something similar.
A little background:
I developed vitiligo when I was around 8 years old. It was fairly stable for many years but has progressed over the last couple of years. That has already been emotionally difficult to accept.
In 2021, I had a pilonidal sinus that required surgery (cleft lift). Thankfully the surgery was successful, although the scar still occasionally becomes sore or burns with friction, especially from underwear.
My husband and I have been planning to start trying for a baby soon, so I’ve been focusing on improving my health and losing weight.
Around April of this year, I started getting a small, tender recurring bump on the left vulvar/groin area (hair-bearing skin near the labia). It seems to flare after my period or after sex, then partially settles, only to come back again. I’ve probably had about 4 recurrences.
Initially I was treated with oral antibiotics and topical antibiotics. The bump improved, but it kept coming back.
Recently I saw a dermatologist who feels this may be hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and is concerned there may be an underlying tract. She started me on:
topical clindamycin
benzoyl peroxide wash
and referred me to an HS specialist for a surgical consultation.
I also had a pelvic MRI, but I’m still waiting for the official results.
The colorectal surgeon previously examined me and didn’t find evidence of an obvious anal fistula on examination, but the dermatologist thinks the issue may be limited to the vulvar skin.
At the moment:
I don’t have fever.
No significant drainage.
No obvious redness or swelling.
There is still some firmness and tenderness.
Sometimes I get a burning sensation in the skin around the vulva/perineum, although it comes and goes.
Emotionally, this diagnosis has completely shaken me. After dealing with vitiligo and previous pilonidal disease, I feel like my body keeps giving me new problems just when I start to recover from the last one.
I have a few questions:
Has anyone had early or mild HS that stayed stable for years?
If you had a small sinus tract/tunnel, were you able to manage it without surgery?
Did weight loss significantly reduce your flares?
Has anyone gone through pregnancy with mild HS?
If you eventually needed surgery in the vulvar/groin area, were you able to return to a normal sex life afterward?
I know Reddit can’t diagnose me, and I’m waiting for my MRI and HS specialist appointment. I think what I’m looking for most right now is some honest experiences—especially from people who have been able to live normal, fulfilling lives with HS.
Thank you for reading.