Hello All,

My name is Lesley Toyer and I am 22 years, i have just been  diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurative although i have been suffering for the last year.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is an uncommon chronic inflammatory skin condition.
It effects inverse areas of the body, top of inner thighs, bottom, genitals, armpits, under the breasts in women and less commonly the stomach, hair line and behind the ears.
The symptoms of Hidradenitis Suppurativa vary greatly, it can be as slight as black heads and pimples or as serious as large draining lesions, growing to the size of golf balls.

It has been suggested that HS may not be as rare as believed, but that people are hesitant to come forward through shame and embarrassment. Also the figures are low through lack of accurate diagnosis.
Very little research has been done into Hidradenitis Suppurativa. It is known as an 'orphan' illness, which means, because it is considered rare there are no pharmaceutical companies that have taken up the challenge to find a decent treatment or cure. What we do know however, is that it is caused by the tendency of the appocrine hair follicle to become blocked. The question now is why?
HS has been linked with auto immune disorders, it also has been found to have a genetic link. HS is more common in women, and seems to be effected by the hormones, although no exact pattern has emerged. As with many skin disorders, HS symptoms are increased by stress.

Many people do not understand HS, and how it can affect the life of a sufferer.

 

I will be doing a skydive to help raise money for the British Association for Hidadenitis Suppurativa and would be very grateful if you would sponsore me, £10 would go a long way but anything will do as every penny counts.

 

I will be posting pictures and hopfully a video of me doing the skydive.

 

I you would like some for information please visit http://www.ba-hs.org.uk/