Why do my HS flares get worse around my period?

Answered by Eva Taub

I hear this from almost every HS client eventually, and it’s not in your head. HS is influenced by hormonal activity, and I’ve watched flares track with the menstrual cycle in client after client, usually worsening in the days before their period. It’s a recognized pattern, not a coincidence, and it’s one of the reasons hormonal therapy is sometimes part of medical HS management. I’d genuinely encourage you to track your flares against your cycle — it’s useful information to bring to a dermatologist, and I’ve seen it change how a case gets managed.