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WHAT is hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)? HS#stands#for#two#big#and#hard1to1pronounce#words,#hidradenitis#suppurativa,#which#is#the#medical#term#for##the#disease#your#parent#has.1##HS#is#a#skin#disease#that#causes#different#types#of#painful#red#bumps#and#spots#on#the#skin.#These#bumps#can#be#big#or#small#and#often#appear#where#skin#rubs#together#like#armpits#and#private#areas,#but#can#appear#in#other#places#too.1,2##WHY#does#my#parent#have#HS?#Doctors#haven’t#figured#that#out#yet.#They#believe#HS#may#have#to#do#with#hair#getting#stuck#underneath#the#skin.2,3##

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA#(HS)?#!

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Children’s Guide#to#Understanding#HS#and#Its#Impact#

WHAT does it feel like to have HS? !

HS#hurts#and#since#it#is#something#that#your#parent#will#live#with#for#a#long#time,#your#mom#

or#dad#may#be#in#pain#a#lot.#1,2,3#

!Your#parent#might#often#feel#sad#and#may#want#to#spend#

time#alone.1#

Your#mom#or#dad#might#have##to#spend#time#putting bandages on#the#areas#of#their#skin#that#are#

affected#by#HS.4#

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Sometimes#your#parent#won’t be able to do normal activities like#going#to#work#or#playing#

outside.1,2##

Because#HS#can#be#very#painful,#your#parent#may#not#be#able#to#move#

around#as#much#as#usual.#If#your#mom#or#dad#has#HS,#they#may not be able to hug you or play with you#because#it’s#too#

painful.#1,2##

Your#mom#or#dad#may#feel#embarrassed#because#he#or#she#feels#uncomfortable#about#the#red#bumps#on#their#skin.1#

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DO people with HS go to the doctor? Special#skin#doctors#called#dermatologists#care#for#people#with#HS.1,2##Dermatologists#can#help#manage#your#parent's#painful#symptoms.1#

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REFERENCES 1. Dufour DN, Emtestam L, Jemec GB. Hidradenitis suppurativa: a common and burdensome, yet

under-recognised, inflammatory skin disease. Postgrad Med J. 2014; 90 (1062):216-21. 2. Jemec G. Hidradenitis Suppurativa. N Engl J Med. 2012; 366:158-64. 3. Zouboulis CC, Tsatsou F (2012) Disorders of the Apocrine Sweat Glands. In: Goldsmith LA, Katz

SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffell DJ, Wolff K (eds) Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed, McGraw Hill, New York Chicago, pp 947-959.

4. Mayo Health Clinic. Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hidradenitis-suppurativa/DS00818. Published April 9, 2013. Accessed September 10, 2013

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HOW can I help my mom, dad or family member with HS? Try#being#a#good#listener.#Sometimes#it#is#helpful#for#people#with#HS#to#explain#it#to#others#and#let#friends#and#family#know#what’s#happening#to#their#bodies.4##Tell#them#that#you#love#them#no#matter#what#their#skin#looks#like.####

##SHOULD I tell other people that they have HS? It’s#up#to#your#parent#if#they#want#to#tell#others#about#having#HS.!

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