The type of clothing you wear may affect how you feel while living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

Because HS — also known as acne inversa — causes painful, recurring bumps and lesions (abscesses) in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and other areas of the body, certain clothes may feel uncomfortable or irritating.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can try to make living with HS more comfortable. Here are some hidradenitis suppurativa clothing tips that may help reduce friction, chafing, and pressure, allowing you to feel more confident in your everyday life.

Hidradenitis suppurativa tends to affect warm, damp areas of the body where the skin rubs together, such as the buttocks, underarms, groin, inner thighs, and undersides of the breasts. However, it is possible for HS lesions to develop in less common areas such as the neck, face, or back.

The general consensus among myHSteam members and dermatologists is that people living with HS should choose soft, breathable, absorbent fabrics that reduce moisture, heat, irritation, and odor.

Which Fabrics Are Breathable?

Choosing the right fabric can help reduce moisture from humidity and sweat, decrease irritating friction, and help control odor.

Recommended fabrics for people with HS include:

Keep in mind that not all synthetic fabrics are moisture-wicking. When shopping, look for clothing items labeled “moisture-wicking” or “quick-drying.” You can usually find these terms listed in the product description or on the item’s fabric-care information.

Along with breathable fabrics, loose clothing can also help your skin breathe by improving air circulation and reducing moisture and friction in sensitive areas where skin rubs together.

Avoid tight clothes like leggings or skinny jeans, and consider garments such as:

One myHSteam member explained that they wear “cotton or soft dresses or a nightgown with nothing underneath,” which “eliminates the rubbing that causes pain.” The same member shared that they don’t wear jeans because doing so worsens their HS flares.

Another member recommended Dri-FIT running shorts and skirts, as they are more breathable and encourage greater airflow.

Tight, restrictive undergarments and bras with wires or thin straps can pinch and aggravate HS symptoms as well as trigger flare-ups. Wearing looser and more comfortable underwear may help reduce any potential irritation.

Which Type of Bra Is Best?

Finding a comfortable bra in the right size can help reduce irritation and discomfort and prevent friction in lesion-prone areas.

If you have HS under your breasts, you may find bralettes or wireless bras to be more comfortable than stiffer bras or bras with underwire. Camisoles with built-in wireless bras or sports bras with wide straps may offer similar comfort with less restriction.

What Kind of Underwear Is Most Comfortable?

Certain styles of cotton underwear — such as briefs or boy shorts — can also provide more comfort and reduce friction on the buttocks and inner thighs.

A number of companies sell clothing and underwear specifically for people with HS, including a company called HidraWear. They carry undergarments that are designed to hold wound dressings in place and to be comfortable for people who have HS symptoms in the groin area.

“I’ve started using HidraWear for the dressings, and I can say it’s much more comfortable!” one myHSteam member wrote.

A female member added, “I thought I was crazy for doing this, but I find men’s boxers the best. They are so much more comfortable than ladies’ panties.”

Seamless underwear can also add to comfort because seams can irritate sensitive skin in the groin area or buttocks.

Leaking lesions can sometimes stain clothing, as one myHSteam member pointed out by sharing a photo of stained clothing with the comment, “I hate when the boils burst, and it stains clothing. It looks awful.”

Some myHSteam members suggest using commercial stain removers like OxiClean, rinsing clothes in vinegar, and wearing darker colors to limit the visibility of stains.

Another member recommended looking for patterned fabrics that don’t show stains: “I just got the cutest dress. It is in various spring colors. It gives me confidence, so that if something drains, other people would have to be far too close to notice.”

If you’re washing your clothes frequently to manage stains and odor, be sure to use laundry detergents that don’t contain fragrances or dyes, which can be irritating to affected skin.

Finally, a myHSteam member had this helpful advice when dressing with wound care in mind: “Look into getting All Health Advanced Fast Healing Hydrocolloid Gel Bandages or Band-Aid Hydro Seal Advanced Healing bandages. These help stop your clothes from staining, cushion the boil so as to decrease the pain from friction, and help heal boils faster!”

Many myHSteam members struggle with making clothing choices that allow them to feel comfortable and confident:

Dressing confidently may mean changing your style with clothes that are looser and cover more of your skin. It can also mean simply wearing what feels good, regardless of the season or trends.

One myHSteam member encouraged a future bride worried about finding a gown that met their needs: “I know dressing up for a special day can be a little stressful. But be confident in yourself and always try to remember you are beautiful.”

This advice came from someone else: “Today is a beautiful day. I have a flare, but I am so happy to be alive. We are all hurting. So let’s keep cool, wear comfortable clothes, nothing tight, and keep on trucking.”