What Does HS Drainage Look Like?

HS drainage can vary from person to person and even from one lesion to another. The fluid may appear yellow, milky white, greenish, pink, brown, or blood-tinged.

A number of myHSteam members have shared their experiences with drainage. One member said that their HS “will be leaking out white pus and blood. It’s so hurtful, but it will heal after a few days.”

“Sometimes mine will fill with pus, yellow-reddish pus, that drains and goes away,” added another member. “This time, the big one came … that had very thick green, yellowish, red-tinged pus come out.”

Some people also experience drainage from tunnels beneath the skin, known as sinus tracts. These tunnels under the skin can connect multiple lesions on the surface of the skin and may drain repeatedly over long periods of time.

What About Odor?

HS odor is another common concern when it comes to drainage. Not everyone with HS experiences odor, but when it occurs, it can have a major impact on quality of life.

The smell is often linked to fluid collecting in tunnels and wounds, along with bacteria that naturally live on the skin. The odor may become stronger when drainage remains trapped under a dressing or in skin folds for long periods.

One member shared, “My arm smells rotten and is leaking onto my clothes today. Aching a little, but the relief of it pouring out instead of being stuck inside is worth it.”

“My pores get clogged super easily, it seems, so as soon as I have that unpleasant sweat smell, I immediately clean the area,” expressed someone else. “It works to keep them from getting so big and busting open a majority of the time now.”

Care Tips for Managing HS Drainage

The most effective long-term strategy for reducing drainage is finding an HS treatment plan that works for you. However, reaching good disease control can take time. You may need to try multiple treatment approaches before finding the right combination.

Your healthcare team may recommend a number of treatment options. These may include antibiotics, steroid injections, biologics, or surgical procedures to manage lesions and drainage over time.

While you and your dermatologist work toward better disease control, there are a number of strategies that may help you manage ongoing HS discharge.

Try a Warm Compress

If you feel like a lesion is ready to drain soon, it can be helpful to apply a warm compress. Warming the affected area brings blood flow to the area, which speeds up the healing process and softens the abscess.

Place the warm compress on for roughly 15 minutes at a time, and repeat throughout the day.

“If my flare-up, cyst, or nodule is tender, I use Prid with a hot compress for getting it to drain,” one member said. “Sometimes I have to do that for a couple of days.”

Another member agreed, adding, “At home, soak in Epsom salt and lather manuka honey on top. Use a heating pad to try to get it to drain.”

Use Highly Absorbent Dressings

For open wounds, dressings or bandages that absorb large amounts of drainage while still allowing the skin to breathe are the best options. They can also reduce skin irritation caused by constant moisture.

Some dressing options people commonly use include gauze, abdominal pads (ABD pads), or menstrual pads worn over affected areas.

“Two suggestions that have worked for me,” elaborated one member. “Primarily a wide, long, thin feminine hygiene pad. Second, is gauze and a Tegaderm dressing … Tegaderm is generally used to keep water out of wounds, but it works the other way as well within reason.”

“I’d look at using Tegaderm (clear bandage) with gauze underneath to soak up the draining. That’s my problem area at the moment, too,” another added.

“I used to have to get gauze pads. The 2-inch by 4-inch size pads,” said another. “I would use medical tape to keep the gauze pad in place while I’m out in public.”

Barrier products such as petroleum jelly or skin-protectant creams may help shield nearby skin. One member added, “What worked best for me with the flares once opened is a petrolatum-impregnated gauze, then covering that with a gauze and bandage.”

Change Dressings Often

Allowing dressings to become completely soaked can increase odor, irritate surrounding skin, and lead to leaks.

Many HS wound-care experts recommend checking draining areas regularly and replacing dressings as needed to keep the skin clean and dry.

Help Control Drainage Odor

Keeping wounds clean and changing dressings regularly are among the most effective ways to reduce odor from HS drainage.

Some myHSteam members have found that alternative remedies help absorb odors.

“As for the smell of HS, you can use apple cider vinegar mixed with water, and you can get metronidazole for it,” explained one member. “Also, charcoal bandages.”

“I’ve found that calendula ointment works for me,” shared another.

Avoid Squeezing Your Lesions

The American Academy of Dermatology advises against squeezing or attempting to drain painful HS lesions at home. Doing so can irritate and injure the skin, possibly leading to more skin damage or infection.

If a lesion begins draining on its own, focus on keeping the area clean, protected, and covered with appropriate dressing. Try not to pick any scabs either, as this may disrupt the wound healing process and lead to scarring. Consider wearing loose clothing over your bandages to reduce friction that might irritate the skin and make drainage worse.