If you’ve been dealing with painful lumps, recurring cysts, or unusual swelling in your underarms, under your chest, or in the groin area β you’re not imagining it, and it’s not just “bad hygiene.” What you might be dealing with is Hidradenitis Suppurativa, or HS for short.
I want to talk about what HS is, what triggers it, and share my own personal experience with it β because this is something I went through myself, and it completely changed the way I look at symptoms, food, and hormones.
Quick Summary
- βHS (Hidradenitis Suppurativa) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition causing painful cysts, most often in the underarms, groin, and under the breasts
- βCommon triggers include chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, hormonal shifts, sweat, friction, and stress
- βPerimenopause amplifies nearly every HS trigger at once β making it especially common in women over 40
- βDietary changes, particularly removing inflammatory foods like dairy, may dramatically reduce flare-ups for some women
- βPractical hygiene habits such as post-workout wipes, loose clothing, and mid-day washing can make a meaningful difference
- βThis is a personal experience story and educational discussion β not a medical diagnosis. Always consult your healthcare professional
Who This Is For
- β Youβre a woman over 40 dealing with recurring painful lumps or cysts in your underarms, groin, or under your breasts
- β Youβve noticed your skin suddenly behaving differently since entering perimenopause
- β You suspect food, inflammation, or hormones may be connected to your flare-ups but arenβt sure where to start
- β Youβre looking for practical, holistic strategies alongside β or before β seeking a dermatologist
- β You feel like your body has changed the rules and youβre tired of guessing why
What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)?
HS is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that shows up as bumps, lumps, and cysts β most often in areas like the underarms, under the breasts, or in the groin. It typically starts from clogged hair follicles that become infected, and it tends to flare up with inflammation and hormonal shifts.
It can cause significant scarring, and it’s genuinely hard to live with. The pain and discomfort alone is a real burden. For me personally, it was so bad under my armpits that I stopped wearing tank tops altogether β even at the gym I’d always wear a sleeved shirt, which is not my preference at all.
What Causes HS?
There isn’t one single cause, but common triggers include:
- β Chronic inflammation
- β Insulin resistance
- β Hormonal changes (perimenopause, anyone?)
- β Friction, sweat, and stress
For many women β especially those over 40 β HS is not random. It’s your body waving a big red flag. The question is: what is it trying to tell you?
Why Perimenopause Makes It Worse
Here’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough. Perimenopause makes us more insulin resistant. Lower estrogen often means more inflammation. And declining progesterone impacts stress response and sweating.
So basically, all of the most common HS triggers get amplified at the same time. That’s why so many women who never had skin issues in their 20s and 30s suddenly find themselves dealing with this in their 40s. It’s not a coincidence β it’s a sign of deeper hormonal imbalance.
My Personal HS Story
In August, about six months ago, I noticed tiny cyst-like bumps appearing on the front of my neck. They felt like clogged pores β annoying, but not alarming. Then they disappeared… and reappeared in my armpits. And then it got worse.
I kept getting them more and more often. It was painful. I had no idea what was happening. And then one became huge, infected, and extremely painful β it was draining, and I had to deal with it. That’s when everything clicked: all the symptoms fit HS.
Like anyone would, I started Googling. I tried everything I could find: diluted tea tree oil, hot compresses, castor oil, washing with a Neutrogena glycerin bar for acne and clogged pores, clay masks under my arm, pimple patches with hydroquinone. I also made sure to wipe down all my problem areas after every workout with post-workout wipes (I use the Life brand ones from Shoppers Drug Mart β they have tea tree oil and eucalyptus and they’ve become a gym bag staple for me), change my shirt, and reapply deodorant before getting home to shower.
Out of everything I tried, three things actually made a noticeable difference:
- Castor oil β it didn’t dramatically reduce inflammation, but it was excellent at soothing the area and I believe it helped with scarring.
- Re-washing with a soapy washcloth when I felt especially sweaty β this had an almost immediate positive impact.
- Post-workout wipes and a fresh shirt after exercise β a must for anyone dealing with HS in sweat-prone areas.
I also booked a doctor’s appointment, got a confirmed HS diagnosis, and received a referral to a dermatologist. I haven’t made that appointment yet β because I was able to get the situation under control on my own.
The One Question That Changed Everything
Once I had a handle on the hygiene side of things, I stopped and asked myself one powerful question:
When did this all start?
I’d never had cysts like this before. They started in August. So… what changed in August?
The answer surprised me. I had reintroduced Greek yogurt into my diet. Yep β Greek yogurt. Healthy food, right? I was rotating between four different full-fat, low-sugar varieties. Seemed like a solid nutritional choice.
But here’s the thing I already knew about myself: I’m intolerant to casein, the protein found in cow’s dairy. Years ago, too much dairy used to flare up cystic acne on my face β which is exactly why I cut almost all cow dairy back in 2016.
This time, it showed up differently. I believe the combination of dairy plus the hormonal shifts from perimenopause turned chronic inflammation into full-blown HS.
So I cut the yogurt.
Within 10 days, no more cysts. Gone. Since then, one armpit has completely cleared up with no recurring flare-ups, and the other has only the occasional, very manageable issue. I’m continuing to work on hormone balance to resolve what remains.
An Important Nuance About Food Intolerances
I still eat a small amount of dairy β a splash of 35% cream in my morning coffee, a little cheese here and there. Those have never affected me, and removing the yogurt was sufficient to resolve the issue.
This is a great reminder that food intolerances are dose-dependent and deeply individual. It’s not about labelling foods as “good” or “bad.” It’s about understanding what works β and what doesn’t β for your body.
What To Do If You Suspect HS
Address the triggers directly:
- β Inflammation β Consider reducing or eliminating inflammatory foods like dairy and gluten (they're not the only culprits, but they're a good starting point).
- β Insulin resistance β Look at reducing sugar and carbohydrate intake. A low-carb or ketogenic diet can be genuinely helpful here.
- β Friction and sweat β Wear loose clothing, wipe down sweaty areas throughout the day (not just post-shower), and change out of sweaty workout clothes promptly.
- β Stress β Implement stress management practices that work for you β walking, breathwork, Pilates, or whatever suits your life.
- β Hormonal shifts β This often requires a bigger-picture approach to balancing hormones naturally through diet, lifestyle, sleep, stress reduction, and possibly supplementation.
And please, hear this clearly: HS is not caused by poor hygiene. Managing flare-ups may involve washing more frequently or more strategically, but it is not a hygiene problem.
Your Body Is Communicating With You
If you’re dealing with HS, cystic acne, stubborn weight, bloating, or strange symptoms that came out of nowhere β it’s rarely random. Your body is trying to tell you something. The key is knowing how to listen, what questions to ask, and how to connect the dots between food, hormones, metabolism, inflammation, and lifestyle.
A holistic approach matters here. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
If you’re a woman over 40 and feel like your body has suddenly changed the rules of the game β I help women discover their own personal triggers, balance hormones naturally, and find their way back to feeling good without burning themselves out.
Not sure what the right next step is?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. Weβll talk about your goals, your challenges, and whether Evelyneβs approach is the right fit for this season of life.
Book Your Free Call βHave you dealt with HS or unexplained skin flare-ups? Drop a comment below β I’d love to hear your experience.