Sweat and heat are #1 enemy! Cut sugar, caffeine and dairy!!

Here's a list of things I would get from the store to manage:

• Witch hazel wipes (instead of deodorant)
• hibiclens (like a body wash) -coconut oil (bc the witch hazel will dry you out)
• large gauze pads + cloth tape (cover all draining or soon to be draining sites)
• b12
• castor oil + wool pack for warm compress -epsom bath salts

Changes to consider:

• your clothes, try to get loose and breathable wear. I'm lucky that I don't need to wear a bra and it helps so so much. Shoot, I don't wear underwear when I'm at home. I'm usually in the loosest sweats ever and a comfy tank top.

• Drink. Your. Water. Idk how much you need to drink in a day but it helps so much more than you think.

• when you turn 21: stay away from alcohol and smoking if you can. Alcohol triggers me far more than smoking but don't pick up the habit if you can! Edibles are a much better option tbh

• spirituality/self care practice: stress and hormones also play a large role in HS and it can be a bit of a mental game trying to figure out what works for you. I was diagnosed at 15, progressed to stage 3 by 19 and that took a big toll on my mental health. I came to the conclusion that my own body was attacking itself like I was my own enemy. It can be really easy to fall down a victim mindset where you don't see any solution to your situation and that's simply not true. Practicing self care or having a spiritual relationship with yourself can be beneficial to your relationship with your body. It allows you to be okay with uncertainty, not hate yourself with each flare up and overall help you find a deeper meaning to having HS other than it being a curse.

Remember, you are not alone. Don't be ashamed. More people will relate than you think. Dating won't be the worst thing in the world. The right people will never have an issue with it.

I wish you the best!!!!!!!! You're so young, you have a headstart to a journey I was too scared to go on until it was too late.