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Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Symptom Check

Home / Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Symptom Check / Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Symptom Check

Could Your Symptoms Be Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)?

This short survey asks questions about your skin, symptoms, and medical history to help assess whether your experiences may be consistent with a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). HS is a chronic skin condition that causes painful bumps, abscesses, or tunnels—often in areas like the underarms, groin, or under the breasts.

Your answers will help determine if your symptoms might be consistent with HS and whether you might benefit from talking to a healthcare provider for further evaluation. This tool is not intended to diagnose HS or any other medical condition. Only a qualified healthcare professional can make a diagnosis.

The survey should take only a few minutes. Your responses are private and used only to provide personalized information about your potential risk for HS.

First, we're going to ask you questions about your health and symptoms

What is your Age?(Required)

What sex were you assigned at birth?(Required)

Where on your body have you noticed skin symptoms, such as painful bumps, abscesses, or recurring sores?(Required)

Under or on the breasts

Under the arms

Groin/inner thighs

Genital area (pubic area, vulva, penile area)

Buttocks

Face / scalp

Neck

I have not noticed these symptoms

Select all that apply

Graphic Image Warning

I'm not sure

Have you experienced any of these symptoms?

Pain or tenderness in the affected areas

Pain or tenderness in the affected areas(Required)

Yes

I'm not sure

Have you experienced any of these symptoms?

Unusual odor in the affected areas

Unusual odor in the affected areas(Required)

Yes

I'm not sure

Approximately how long have you been dealing with these types of symptoms, even if they come and go over time and reappear on different parts of the body?(Required)

Less than 1 Month

1-3 Months

4-6 Months

7-12 Months

More than 1 Year

How often do these symptoms flare up or return (even if they go away and reappear on different parts of the body?(Required)

Rarely (only once or twice)

Occasionally (comes and goes - sometimes present, sometimes not

Regularly (comes back on a somewhat predictable or consistent pattern, such as monthly)

Frequently (most of the time, with only brief breaks)

Constantly (Always present, no breaks)

Have you experienced any of these physical sensations in the affected areas?(Required)

Burning sensation in the affected area

Stinging sensation in the affected area

Itching in the affected area

Pressure or fullness in the area

Tenderness or soreness

Sharp, needle-like pain

Feeling of tightness around the skin

Prolonged general fatigue

Joint pain in the morning that lasts 45 minutes or longer

I have not noticed any of these

Select all that apply

Have you noticed triggers for flare-ups such as friction, sweating, stress, hormonal changes, or certain things you eat or drink?(Required)

Yes

I'm not sure

Next, we're going to ask you some questions about your health history. Understanding your previous treatment and diagnoses can help guide future steps in your health care plan.

Who have you been seeing for treatment for the skin symptoms you are experiencing?(Required)

General practitioner/family doctor/primary care practitioner

Dermatologist

Gastroenterologist

Gynecologist/Obstetrician

Naturopathic provider

Walk-in clinic/urgent care

Emergency Department

I have not seen any health care professional for these symptoms

Select all that apply

Has a health care professional diagnosed you with any of these conditions?(Required)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (including cutaneous disease)

Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative colitis (UC)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

Ankylosing spondylitis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Diabetes (type I and type II)

Obesity

Metabolic syndrome

Thyroid Disease

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Acne (severe or cystic)

Pilonidal disease

No, I’ve not been diagnosed with any of these conditions

Select all that apply

Have you ever taken any of the following treatments for this condition?(Required)

Biologic therapy (e.g., Humira, Cosentyx, Bimzelx)

JAK inhibitors (e.g., Rinvoq, Xeljanz)

DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, e.g., methotrexate, sulfasalazine)

I have not taken any of these treatments

Select all that apply

Have you ever been diagnosed with any of the following:(Required)

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) (e.g. genital herpes)

Staph infection

No, I have not been diagnosed with either of these conditions

I’m not sure

Prefer not to answer

Check all that apply

Has anyone in your family experienced these chronic skin issues?(Required)

Atopic dermatitis / Eczema

Psoriasis

Alopecia

No, none of my family members have experienced these issues

I'm not sure

Check all that apply

Thank you for sharing about your health history and experience with symptoms. Next, we’d like to ask some questions about management and treatment of these symptoms.

Have you used topical cream to treat these symptoms?(Required)

Yes

Did the symptoms persist despite using the topical treatment?(Required)

Yes

Have you ever had a doctor drain or remove fluid/pus from one of the affected areas?(Required)

Yes

Has a medical professional ever suggested that your skin symptoms might be related to personal hygiene?(Required)

Many people with HS have been wrongly told their symptoms are due to poor hygiene. HS is a medical condition caused by inflammation — not by how clean you are. Understanding these experiences helps us address stigma and improve care.

Yes

We truly value your experience. If you're comfortable sharing, what has it been like living with these symptoms and seeking care or support from healthcare providers? (Optional)

Would you like to provide your email so we can send you resources and a follow-up survey? We will never share it with anyone else. (Optional)

Unique ID

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Response Stream

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Response Score

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Conditional 1 - Skin

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Conditional 2 - Time

Images sourced from DermNet.

Confidential, Free, and No Personal Data Collected

The HS Check-Up is provided free by the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF). No personal information is collected, your responses are completely anonymous, and you’ll receive results instantly.

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