Taking Back Your Summer With Hidradenitis Suppurativa

For people living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), summer is not just a season. It is a season of planning, managing and quietly worrying about what the heat might bring. Mondana Ghias, M.D., co-founder and chief medical officer of Tono Health, wants patients to know that with the right strategies in place, summer does not have to be something to dread.

Heat, Sweat and Friction: The Summer Triad

HS most commonly affects intertriginous areas (the underarms, upper inner thighs and buttocks), regions that are directly in the path of summer’s three biggest triggers: heat, sweat and friction. Ghias emphasizes that the goal is not to avoid summer entirely, but to make thoughtful modifications that allow patients to stay active and engaged without paying for it later.

Clothing is one of the most accessible levers. Loose-fitting, breathable fabrics minimize friction and reduce trapped sweat in vulnerable areas. Staying cool throughout the day, whether that means an air conditioning break or stepping in front of a fan, helps interrupt the cycle before it starts. And when sweat does accumulate during activity, drying the affected area promptly can reduce the persistence of that irritation.

Clearing Up a Persistent Misconception

One point Ghias is particularly emphatic about: HS is not caused by poor hygiene. It is an overactive immune system condition, and the instinct to scrub or wash more aggressively can actually make things worse. Instead, she recommends shifting to a gentle skin care approach, something like a mild antiseptic wash used thoughtfully rather than aggressively, that calms rather than aggravates the skin.

Having a Game Plan Changes Everything

Beyond the physical strategies, Ghias stresses the mental health dimension of summer planning. Having a clear plan, including knowing which product to reach for during a flare and knowing what to do if something escalates while on vacation, gives patients a sense of control that can itself reduce flare frequency. Stress is a documented trigger for HS, and the anxiety of not knowing what to do compounds the problem. Removing that uncertainty matters.

For anyone experiencing recurring flares, she strongly recommends establishing care with a board-certified dermatologist to build a comprehensive treatment plan. And she is clear about red flags that require urgent attention: fevers, chills, severe or disproportionate pain, or rapidly spreading affected areas all warrant immediate care.

Reason for Real Optimism

After a decade of treating and researching HS, Ghias describes the current treatment landscape as genuinely inspiring. The options available today bear little resemblance to what existed when she started, and outcomes that once seemed out of reach are now achievable. Summer with HS has long been a source of stress, but increasingly, it does not have to stay that way.