Caring for your hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) wounds is an important part of promoting healing and preventing infection. Not sure where to begin? These wound care tips protect your skin from irritation and infection.
1. Talk to your doctor.
The recommended dressings and cleaning instructions vary based on the severity of your wounds, their location and how well they are healing so if you are not sure how to properly care for your wounds, your doctor can offer some guidance.
2. Clean your wound about once a day.
After your surgical treatment, it is important to wash your wound once a day with soap and water. This will help remove any buildup of liquid draining from the wound and any petroleum used to keep the wound moist.
3. Wash gently with mild soap and water.
The type of cleanser you use is important. When washing, always opt for a mild cleanser and steer clear of harsh soaps, scrubs and rubbing alcohols, which are rough on the skin and will only make things worse for you.
It is also important to remember that cleaning wounds aids in healing, but it won't make HS go away completely.
4. Use petroleum jelly.
Petroleum jelly is a great tool to keep your wound moist. When using petroleum jelly, apply a thin layer to the wound before you place a dressing on it. This will soothe the wound and aid in healing it. What's more, petroleum jelly prevents the dressing from sticking to the top layer of your skin, which can be painful as you are removing the dressing.
5. Choose the right dressing.
Another important step in wound care is choosing the right dressing. The key is to choose a dressing that will absorb the fluid because after surgery the wounds from the inflammation of HS can create a lot of liquid and drainage.
If the dressing doesn't catch the drainage, it will sit against the skin causing more irritation and get in the way of your healing.
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The good news is, you may be able to have your dressings covered by health insurance. If not gauze works as well.
A gentle medical tape is ideal when applying the dressing to your skin. The tape should be placed a few centimeters away from the actual wound.
Hypafix is a good option for tape that if more flexible, breathable and gentle that other medical tapes.
6. Keep an eye out for possible signs of infection.
Although HS isn't an infection, it is marked by pus (a commonly known sign of an infection). Many people are often misdiagnosed with an infection. However, infections in HS wounds aren't as common as you may think. Still, it's important to watch for danger signs if an infection does occur so that it can be treated early.
If you notice skin redness that starts spreading beyond the original lesions or if you have fevers or chills or other signs of infection throughout your body, it's time to see your doctor.
7. Tailor your strategies based on where the wound is located.
Where is your wound located? If it's in a hard-to-reach area, there are tools that can help. For example, if it's on your buttocks, a large pad that is held in place by tighter underwear could be an easier solution than using multiple bandages on individual spots, Mayo Clinic notes. For wounds on your breasts, avoid bras that will rub and create friction.
8. Ask for more help if things aren’t healing.
You could be doing everything right and still aren't seeing the results you'd like, possibly because your immune system isn't allowing the wound to heal. If that is the case, a dermatologist can help you find solutions to get the disease under control.
