Mental Health and HS

Sarah Mooallem
May 7, 2025
3 min read

Recent studies suggest that people living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) are more likely to experience depression and anxiety. Here are three constructive ways to support your mental health while living with HS.

Image, Pexels, May 7, 2025

Recent studies suggest that patients battling Hidradenitis Suppurativa are more likely to experience depression and anxiety.

Medical Exhaustion

HS is a chronic, painful condition with recurring flare-ups. There is no cure for HS, only ways to manage the disease. Many patients go through years, and for many, their entire lives of trial-and-error treatments, surgeries, or misdiagnoses, leading to frustration and burnout. Constant dermatology appointments, pre-op preparations, and post-op care can sometimes feel exhausting and all-consuming.

Social Isolation

HS affects 1/100 people, meaning the prevalence of this condition is around 1% (Collier Et Al., 2013, p.29). Due to this small percentage, HS is considered to be a "rare disease." Many in the HS community celebrate with 300 million others on Feb.28 to raise awareness for HS on National Rare Disease Day. Because we are a small percentage, often feelings of social isolation can take over. Unfortunately, there is not enough public and medical awareness as to what HS is, which leads to many misdiagnoses and a lack of general understanding. People with HS may withdraw from social or romantic relationships, increasing feelings of loneliness.

Low Self-Esteem and Body Image Issues

Unlike other inflammatory conditions that share the same category as HS, such as Crohn's disease, HS is often physically visible. HS attacks areas that skin rubs on skin, which includes

intimate parts of the body. HS can cause scarring and drainage, both of which can impact a patient's self-esteem or can contribute to body image issues.

Validated quality of life tools show worse scores for pain, effects on social functioning, living activities, and self-image in hidradenitis than in psoriasis and eczema (Collier Et Al., 2013, p.29). Here are three constructive ways to improve mental health when battling HS.

Journaling

Writing regularly can help patients process their emotions, track flare-up patterns and reflect on progress. Try combining symptom tracking with personal reflections to best understand the link between physical and mental health. "The act of journaling becomes a form of self-therapy that assists with personal growth and development, intuition and self-expression, problem solving, stress reduction, health benefits, reflection and critical thinking" (Portman et al., 2020, p.597).

Joining a Support Group

Whether virtually or in person, HS-specific support groups offer a safe space to connect with others who truly understand what it's like to live with HS. Support groups offer opportunities to share experiences, reduce feelings of isolation and offer practical tips and emotional encouragement from others. Support groups are a great way to lift each other, share relevant management tips and build a community. Having a sense of community when battling HS can help patients feel better understood."In conceptualizing community, the idea of alienation alerts us to the importance of social connection" (Coburn et al., 2017, p.79).

Therapy or Counselling

Talking to a therapist—especially one who understands chronic illness—can be invaluable. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), for example, can help reframe negative thought patterns into positive ones and manage emotional stress tied to the condition. Professional therapists can provide various other strategies to take care of your mental health.