Great question — and yes, the itch is very real! Between 62% and 75% of people with HS experience itchiness, so you're definitely not alone in dealing with this.
Researchers believe HS-related itching is caused by a few key factors:
- Inflammation — the immune response triggered by HS lesions can stimulate itch signals in Show Full Answer
Great question — and yes, the itch is very real! Between 62% and 75% of people with HS experience itchiness, so you're definitely not alone in dealing with this.
Researchers believe HS-related itching is caused by a few key factors:
- Inflammation — the immune response triggered by HS lesions can stimulate itch signals in the skin
- Histamine release — the body releases histamine as part of its inflammatory response, which is a well-known itch trigger
- Nerve irritation — scarring from HS can irritate nearby nerves, which can also cause itching The itch can be especially frustrating because scratching a lesion can accidentally break it open, making things much worse. As one myHSteam member put it, "Scratching somewhere, only to realize that that particular bit is itching because it's a lesion and you've just scratched the top off."
It's worth talking to your dermatologist about itch relief options, as there are both topical and lifestyle approaches that may help.
May 15
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