Your Skin Condition Could Be Making You Tired
Fatigue can come from numerous causescould your skin be one of them?
Youre doing everything right when it comes to keeping your energy levels steady: maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, and reducing stress when you can. But youre still dragging. Whats going on?
One surprising factor could be your skin. If youre seeing lumps and bumps lingering near your armpits or groin , you might be looking at the source of your fatigue.
Managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa Odor With Proper Skin Hygiene
Managing odor from HS starts with keeping up with your prescribed medication to lessen symptoms and curtail disease progression. Typical medications for HS include:
- Topical and oral antibiotics
Taking proper care of your skin can also help prevent flare-ups . Since boils are the cause of the odor, taking steps to prevent or minimize their appearance can help with HS odor.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Humira
You should discuss the potential benefits and risks of HUMIRA with your doctor. HUMIRA is a TNF blocker medicine that can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. You should not start taking HUMIRA if you have any kind of infection unless your doctor says it is okay.
- Serious infections have happened in people taking HUMIRA. These serious infections include tuberculosis and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your doctor should test you for TB before starting HUMIRA, and check you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with HUMIRA, even if your TB test was negative. If your doctor feels you are at risk, you may be treated with medicine for TB.
- Cancer. For children and adults taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children, teenagers, and young adults using TNF blockers. Some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death. If using TNF blockers including HUMIRA, your chance of getting two types of skin cancer may increase. These types are generally not life-threatening if treated tell your doctor if you have a bump or open sore that doesnt heal.
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Will I Have Withdrawal Symptoms If I Stop Taking Remicade
No, you wont have actual withdrawal symptoms. But you may have more symptoms of your condition or they may worsen if you stop taking Remicade.
In a small study, researchers tested the outcomes of stopping Remicade treatment. They found that 72.1% of people needed medication to treat their condition after they stopped taking Remicade.
This study included people with Crohns disease. They were in clinical remission at the time they stopped using Remicade. People stayed symptom free for an average of 1 year after they stopped taking Remicade.
If you have questions about what to expect when your doctor ends your Remicade treatment, talk with them.
Why Does Hidradenitis Suppurativa Develop
Its unclear what causes HS, but there appears to be risk factors ranging from hormones and family history/genetics to cigarette smoking and excess weight, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Individuals in their 20s or 30s are more likely to develop HS than other age groups, as are women compared with men. In the United States, HS is also disproportionately high among Black people, so experts speculate that race or ethnicity may also affect a persons chances of developing it.
One thing experts do know is that the condition is linked to other serious health issues. We dont fully understand why, but HS is associated with other conditions, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and Crohns disease, Dr. Fong says. In addition, since HS is a disorder of the hair follicle, it often occurs with similar related disorders, such as acne conglobata and dissecting cellulitis of the scalp.
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Side Effects And Risks
Remicade and Humira work in different ways but have some similar side effects. Examples of common and serious side effects for each drug are listed below.
People in both Remicade clinical studies and Humira clinical studies had side effects. But these may be symptoms of other side effects. For example, a fever may be a symptom of an infection. Side effects may overlap between the drugs.
More common side effects
Here are examples of more common side effects that can occur with Remicade, with Humira, or with both drugs .
- Can occur with Remicade:
- psoriatic arthritis
- plaque psoriasis
These drugs havent been directly compared in clinical studies, but studies have found both Remicade and Humira to be effective for treating the conditions mentioned above.
Side Effects In Children
In clinical studies, children with Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis had certain side effects more often than adults.
Side effects that occurred more often in children were:
- anemia
- low level of white blood cells
- flushing
- bacterial and viral infections
- allergic reactions of the throat and lungs
Your doctor will monitor your child for these side effects during and after Remicade treatment.
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Reasons Your Hs Makes You So Tired
by Lifestyle Writer
Hidradenitis suppurativa is well known for the physical symptoms that come from the chronic skin condition, from small, painful lumps that form under the skin to large abscesses that can break open.
A lesser-known fact: Your hidradenitis suppurativa could be wreaking havoc on your life in other, non-skin-related ways, toonamely your energy levels, since fatigue is one of the most reported symptoms, affecting nearly 40% of HS patients.
Fighting feelings of chronic tiredness makes it harder to deal with the daily symptoms of your skin condition. The good news? Dealing with fatigue that is related to your hidradenitis suppurativa can work hand-in-hand with your existing HS treatment plan. In fact, better clinical control of HS often leads to less fatigue, says Anna Chacon, M.D., a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH. That’s a win-win!
Getting started tackling your fatigue is easier than you might think, says Jaydeep Tripathy, M.D., a primary care doctor in Chennai, India, who works for Doctor Spring, an online platform for virtual doctor consultations and medical second opinions. Step one: Identifying whether the fatigue is a regular part of your condition or if its an indication of another issue. This will set you up for quick relief and more energy.
If youre struggling with daily tiredness and fatigue, here are 10 reasons whyplus, productive ways to combat it.
Do I Need Any Tests To Diagnose Hidradenitis Suppurativa
There are no tests used to diagnose hidradenitis suppurativa. The diagnosis is usually based on the typical signs and symptoms that a person may have.
Sometimes hidradenitis suppurativa is confused with other similar-looking skin conditions such as common boils, collections of pus , skin infections and ingrowing hairs. Other diseases can cause tunnels known as sinus tracts – for example, Crohn’s disease. Tests might be needed to exclude these other conditions, although they often have many other symptoms.
Sometimes, if there are signs of infection, small samples can be taken. This is to see what germs are growing in the pus. This can help in deciding whether antibiotic medicines should be used.
Occasionally, it might be helpful to test your blood for sugar to make sure you do not have diabetes. This is because skin infections are more common in people with diabetes. Your doctor might also take blood tests to make sure you are not anaemic and to monitor the level of infection or inflammation.
Scans, such as CT scans, are not needed to diagnose the condition. They may, however, be used in very severe disease, to plan surgery, as it is important to know where the sinus tracts go and how deep they are.
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What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving the hair follicles and sweat glands. Also known as acne inversa, this condition usually begins with the appearance of pimple-like bumps on the skin. Without treatment, these bumps can worsen, grow deep into the skin and turn into painful hard lumps or pockets of pus . The pockets often break open. After they heal, thick scars often form.
How Did I Get Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Doctors arent sure what causes hidradenitis suppurativa, but its probably tied to your genes and to things in the world around you. Its more common in women than in men. Its also more likely if youre overweight, if you smoke, and if youve had acne. About a third of people who get HS have a relative with it.
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Drug Forms And Administration
Remicade comes as a vial of powder. Your healthcare provider will mix it with a liquid to make a solution. They will then give you the Remicade solution as an infusion. This is an injection into your vein thats given over a period of time.
Youll go to your doctors office or a clinic to have the infusions. Remicade infusions are typically around 2 hours long. The usual dosing schedule is once every 8 weeks after you complete the first stage of dosing.
Humira comes in three forms:
- a prefilled, single-dose syringe
- a prefilled, single-dose pen
- a single-dose vial for use only by a healthcare provider
Humira is given as an injection just under your skin . A healthcare provider can give you the injections, or you can inject yourself at home. The usual dosing schedule is one injection every other week.
What Are The Most Common Hidradenitis Suppurativa Symptoms
Most people with hidradenitis suppurativa notice their first symptoms when theyre between 13 24 years old, although its not uncommon for people to get their first bumps in their 30s. If a person develops the condition before his or her 13th birthday, it is considered early-onset. With early-onset HS, the child is more likely to have lesions in multiple body areas and to have hormonal imbalances. HS that starts before puberty is more common in kids with a family history of HS.
The earliest symptoms are usually pain, itching, burning, skin redness and increased sweating in the affected area. Later, the first lesions appear as small painful bumps that sometimes contain pus or blood. The bumps eventually turn into deep, inflamed nodules.
Over weeks or months, the nodules become progressively swollen. Eventually, they may rupture and release bad-smelling pus and bloody fluid. This release is called suppuration. The process happens over and over, and it can eventually lead to severe scarring that can get in the way of moving the arms or legs. In the late stages of HS, a person may have severe headaches, cramps and joint pain.
Fatigue is an important symptom of HS that can be related to anemia. Anemia is common with HS because the inflammation combined with blood loss from wounds can lower your bodys iron and red blood cells. Its important to have your doctor test you for anemia if you have HS and feel very weak or tired especially if you are considering surgery.
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Combination Therapy With Methotrexate And Other Drugs
Your doctor may prescribe medication for you to take with Remicade to better control your symptoms. These drugs often ease inflammation by treating different parts of your immune system than Remicade does.
For example, the American College of Gastroenterology recommends combination therapy for people with moderate to severe Crohns disease. The guidelines suggest using Remicade with medications such as azathioprine or methotrexate . They also recommend taking corticosteroids, such as prednisone, with Remicade or other similar drugs.
Examples of other medications that may be used with Remicade to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen , celecoxib
- corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- opioids, such as hydrocodone
Examples of other medications that may be used with Remicade to treat symptoms of plaque psoriasis include:
- topical corticosteroids, such as betamethasone
- topical calcipotriene
- coal tar
Many of the conditions that Remicade treats can also be treated with similar additional medications. Talk with your doctor about the safety and effectiveness of all over-the-counter or prescription drugs youre considering for your treatment.
Reason Youre Fatigued: Youre Not Exercising Regularly
A healthy amount of weight loss is often beneficial for many disease processes, including HS, as well as the symptoms that stem from them, such as fatigue, says. Dr. Chacon. But exercising can also help combat fatigue if you arent overweight. A study published in Psychological Bulletin found that regular exercise increases energy greater than the improvement from using stimulant medications. Dr. Chacon recommends exercising daily for about 30-60 minutes to keep your body healthy: Cardio based exercises such as swimming, running, walking and aerobic exercise will help bring your energy level up, and also prevent HS flares over the long term, she says.
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How To Fight The Fatigue
Strategies that help reduce weariness overall can be helpful, but if you think your tiredness might be linked to HS, be sure to check in with a dermatologist, suggests Dr. Nguyen.
Often, HS doesnt get diagnosed until its hugely problematic, because it can get mistaken for boils or acne, he says, and in some cases a primary care doctor may recommend surgery or antibioticswhich Nguyen says are ineffective and may cause more scarring.
Get your energy boosters in place like sleep and stress reduction, but also take care of yourself by seeing a specialist who can provide the right treatment.
Can Hidradenitis Suppurativa Be Prevented
Because doctors do not know what causes hidradenitis suppurativa, there is no known way to prevent it. However, there are some simple steps that can be taken at home to lessen the symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa. These include:
- Achieve a healthy weight
- Do not shave affected areas
- Clean affected areas daily with antibacterial soap
- Avoid smoking
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Shopping For Occasion Wear Is Hard
Comfy clothes are HS patients best friend. But you cant wear your favourite tracksuit for a family wedding. Shopping for outfits for weddings, and special occasions can be very hard. Not only do you have to select something that is comfortable, but it will also have to hide your bandages and dressings, and make sure that they will not leak.
HidraWear is an extremely discreet way to dress your wounds. Its not bulky and can be worn under many garments undetected. The dressings are highly abosrbent too so your lovely outfit wont get destroyed.
How Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa Diagnosed
To diagnose hidradenitis suppurativa, a dermatologist will:
- Ask you about your family history of skin problems
- Do a physical exam
- Closely study the appearance of your skin
- Note where the bumps are located
- Ask how long the bumps have been present and if they disappear and reappear
Blood tests can help confirm a diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa. If pus is present, your doctor may also take a biopsy of it to rule out other skin conditions.
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What Are The Complications Of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa occurs in cycles throughout a patientâs lifetime, with periods of breakouts and healings. In some cases, the disease progresses and causes abscesses to form deep within skin tissue. Continued healing and scarring can cause that area of the skin to become thick and in extreme cases, the scarring makes the affected area firm and difficult to move. Continued healing and scarring can also cause fistulas to form inside the body. Fistulas are hollow passages that are painful and require surgery to repair.
Can Hidradenitis Suppurativa Be Cured
Although there is no cure for hidradenitis suppurativa, early diagnosis and treatment help prevent the disease from getting worse and forming additional scars. Symptoms appear and disappear and vary from person to person. Many treatments are available and usually a combination of the following treatments is tried.
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Reason Youre Fatigued: Youre Stressed Or Anxious
Feeling stressed out about the appearance and feel of your skin not only affects mental health, but it can also lead to exhaustion. Heres why: When youre in a stressful situation , your body produces more of the fight-or-flight chemicals. The response kicks all bodily systems into overdrive to keep you safe in what it perceives as a dangerous situation. The mental toll that HS takes can cause anxiety, leading to fatigue and restlessness, says Dr. Tripathy. Thats why he suggests practicing yoga or meditation: Clarity in thought and emotion can help avoid the blues.
Does Getting Laser Hair Removal Help With Hidradenitis Suppurativa
How effective is it? In studies, laser hair removal improved HS by 32 to 72 percent after 2 to 4 months of treatment. However, the treatment only seems to work in people with mild disease those with stage 1 or 2 HS. One advantage to laser treatment is that it doesn’t cause body-wide side effects like pills do.
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Depression Anxiety And Suicide Risk
Skin disorders that cause visible symptoms can take an emotional toll and contribute to low self-worth, embarrassment, and social isolation. This, in turn, may increase risk for anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and generally affect quality of life, according to a review published in August 2021 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
