I Thought It Was Just a Bump—The Truth Changed My Life Forever

Image courtesy of Brianna Jenkins/SELF Brianna Jenkins was just eight years old when she experienced the first signs of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)—a chronic skin disease that causes painful, boil-like abscesses. The initial bump appeared under her arm and, despite efforts like warm compresses and rubbing alcohol, it only grew larger. “When I went to the dermatologist, the bump—which had been the size of a pea—had grown to the size of a golf ball,” Jenkins recalls. That day marked the beginning of her journey with a condition that would significantly impact her life. By age 10, when Jenkins started her period, her symptoms intensified. The HS began spreading around her underarms. Her doctor prescribed steroids to help manage the pain, but the abscesses persisted. “Whenever I got my period, my HS flared up, and I’d have to rely on steroids to calm the symptoms,” she says. RELATED: Is It HS? 6 Common Misdiagnoses Black Folks Should Look Out For “I Was Always Worried About How I Smelled” As Jenkins entered her teenage years, her HS became even more debilitating and emotionally taxing. “It got worse and became so embarrassing. I couldn’t lift my arms. It spread to my groin area,” she...