Finally doing my thread on HS. It’ll be a combination of 3 abnormalities with the sweat glands:

- Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)
- Hyperhidrosis (primary and secondary)
- Body odor (Bromhidrosis)

I’ll also finally be reviewing the @necessaire deodorant after 7 months of use!

Let’s get started at 6:00 PM EST.

So first, I want to begin by defining these conditions, before we even get to discussing deodorant.

HS is a condition that is categorized as inflammation/infection within the sudoriferous glands (sweat glands) which causes painful lesions in areas like the groin/underarms.

HS can appear as boil-like lumps, sore under the skin lumps, or a swollen red bump with no opening visible. Overall, it hurts *really* bad regardless of how it presents. It also looks different on different complexions. And it leaves PIH/PIE *and* atrophic scarring for many.

TW // Graphic images

The inflammation can become so unbearable that it hurts to put ones arm down or move it. This degree of inflammation can also result in a deep scar, which almost appears like a hole in the skin. This is what atrophic scarring is with HS. Same in the groin.

So how can you treat it and what causes it? Well, the cause is largely unknown. There’s a connection between hormones and HS flare ups. Being overweight can also play a role due to friction. But still, the overall cause is unknown.

Our apocrine glands are mainly the ones affected by it. But as far as treatment, it’s mostly management options that are available, unless it’s severe (Hurley stage 2-3) and this is where surgery/laser come in. Antibiotics are given if infection is present. That’s it, really.

So how do you successfully manage HS? A few things that have worked really well for me over the years are:

- Consistent icing in areas I flare up. Icing reduces inflammation.
- Regular exfoliation to prevent follicle blockages
- Not wearing super tight clothing due to friction

Now moving on to hyperhydrosis, which actually also triggers HS due to the excessive sweating, it’s caused by overactive sweat glands. In short, your nervous system sends a signal to your sweat glands to produce more sweat, even when the occasion doesn’t quite call for it.

Hyperhydrosis means that I’ll be sitting down w/ my friends in an air conditioned room, and I’m the only one sweating. Or I’ll walk a few steps exerting minimal energy and start sweating. It has nothing to do with being out of shape or unhygienic, which is a common misconception.

Or it’ll be the COLDEST day in the winter and as soon as I put my coat on, I’m sweating profusely. In all honesty, it wastes a lot of skincare for me because I sweat all the time and have to wipe it off. This makes SPF reapplication even *more* crucial if you have hyperhydrosis.

Hyperhydrosis can either be primary or secondary. Primary hyperhydrosis is where you were born with it (like I was) and it’s hereditary. Secondary means there’s an underlying condition causing it (menopause, diabetes, thyroid problems, drug withdrawals etc).

Interestingly enough, sweat itself isn’t what actually smells. The bacteria that’s produced when we sweat is what smells. And this is where bromhidrosis is. It’s the medical term for body odor (BO) when we sweat. Hyperhydrosis and HS are often accompanied with bromhidrosis.

There’s also different types of hyperhydrosis as far as *where* the sweating occurs. I have craniofacial hyperhydrosis, which means it mostly affects my head and neck. Focal hyperhydrosis means the sweating is localized in the feet, underarms, and palms.

For focal hyperhydrosis, there are a few effective treatments such as Botox. It’s an FDA approved treatment for hyperhydrosis, it’s just mostly done in the underarm area as that’s where it’s primarily been approved for. Topical anticholinergics are effective too.

So when it comes to managing conditions with sweat, the products you use are SUPER important. Aluminum based deodorants are effective + perfectly safe, but I’ve found in the 7 months I’ve been using The Deodorant by @necessaire that I respond *much* better to chemical exfoliants.

@necessaire sent over their full collection, including the new Fragrance Free deodorant + the sandalwood one. I’ve also used the eucalyptus (green one). I’m *really* passionate about sweating conditions, so I appreciate them also sponsoring this thread for me to discuss sweating.

Now what primarily makes this deodorant different from others, and also super helpful in managing body odor and HS flare ups is that instead of aluminum, it’s formulated using lactic and Mandelic acid. Not only do these two target hyperpigmentation, they’re antibacterial.

Again, bacteria is what actually causes sweat to smell. And it’s also what causes infection which leads to HS flare ups. So by regularly using exfoliants in areas where you have flare ups, you reduce the bacteria present and also prevent follicle blockages which can lead to HS.

For hyperhydrosis, using a deodorant with lactic and Mandelic acids means that even when you’re sweating, it’s not going to smell because the two acids are meant to kill the bacteria that causes bromhidrosis (body odor). This also reduces the shame associated with sweating a lot.

A large part of why sweating conditions are SO hard to deal with is because of the stigma around sweat. People associate it with a lack of hygiene (especially when odor is present) or being overweight. None of which are causes of hyperhydrosis or HS. The stares are trash.

So in the 7 months I’ve been using, I haven’t had a single HS flare up in my underarms specifically. I’ve had 1 in my groin area. While I don’t apply the deodorant there, I DO regularly exfoliate there with salicylic/lactic acids or BPO to mitigate flare ups/odor. It 100% works.

Most people only think that chemical exfoliants can be used on the face or larger areas of the body. That’s untrue. You can 100% gently exfoliate your underarms, under the breasts (common area for HS as well), and groin area. This is crucial if you have HS.

So on top of an exfoliating deodorant, I use additional exfoliants such as the @PaulasChoice 2% BHA liquid in my underarms and groin area. I do this about 2-3x/week. I no longer deal with BO at all. Literally. This combo has changed the whole game. And no HS flare ups at all.

The texture of The Deodorant by @necessaire is a bit thicker than your average deodorant. And you only need very little. Which I like because that means the product is used for longer since each application is minimal. I also have never had to reapply it for it to keep working.

I have LONG days. And I sweat profusely. My shirts used to be drenched in my armpits by the end of the day. I no longer experience that as well now. My pits stay dry essentially all day long because of the kaolin clay, zinc, and silica in The Deodorant. These absorb moisture.

This also doesn’t have baking soda. I was super apprehensive at first, not going to lie. I’m used to prescription strength deodorants that use aluminum. But they’d never actually keep my pits dry. This does both. The acids neutralize odor, the clay, zinc, and silica absorb sweat.

So here’s how my routine managing my HS/hyperhydrosis looks like:

- Shower with a gentle, non stripping body wash
- Apply 2% BHA 2-3x/week, wait about 2 minutes.
- Apply @necessaire The Deodorant in Fragrance Free or Eucalyptus.
- Wait about 5 minutes, wear clothes.

Here’s my routine during an HS flare up:

- Shower with my eczema wash (it calms down inflammation)
- Ice the area 2x/day for 5-10 minutes indirectly (barrier between skin and ice)
- Apply a 5% lactic acid serum to reduce inflammation
- Hydrate using @necessaire the body serum.

I use the body serum during flare ups because you need to keep the area well moisturized, but you want something lightweight that’s easy to apply and requires minimal pressure. You don’t really have to work the serum in, like you would a lotion. Less pressure = more comfort.

The main thing you DONT want to do is contribute to heat/friction in the area as well as added inflammation through things like fragrances. I know it may be tempting to spray perfume under the arms or groin area to mask any BO, but I promise it’s only making things worse.

I think something that we really need to talk about more is just how much shame and guilt people who have sweating conditions experience. Like, it’s really out of our control yet it’s SO embarrassing and can be painful, in the case of HS. How many of you feel that embarrassment?

I also advise using something like the PFB Vanish Chromabright specifically in the groin area. It’s a super deep exfoliation that’ll treat the hyperpigmentation left behind. One of the biggest reasons behind the shame is bc people can think a flare up/scar is an STD when it’s not

If you’d like to purchase the @necessaire deodorant (I personally prefer the eucalyptus scent here, it’s very fresh), you can use my non-affiliate code LILY10! Non-affiliate meaning I don’t make any commission from your purchase. I’ve genuinely been enjoying it for ~7 months now.