HS Wound Dressings: Three Questions for Your Care Plan

If you have diagnosed hidradenitis suppurativa and are packing spare dressings for work, bring those practical details to the next appointment. Tell the team what leaks, slips or makes changing the dressing difficult. A plan you can carry out needs that information.

1. Which dressing fits this site and amount of drainage?

The British Association of Dermatologists¹ says dressings should be prescribed for people with HS who have draining areas. It describes options with a non-adhesive absorbent section and an adhesive border, as well as dressings held in place by clothing. Ask which design suits your affected area.¹

The AAD explains that the dermatologist considers wound location, leakage and the condition of nearby skin when choosing wound care. Mention sticking, soreness around the border or leakage onto clothes. Ask the team to review the fit before you buy more of the same dressing.²

2. How do I change it, and when?

HS can cause wounds that heal slowly or do not heal. The AAD says patients who need wound care are taught to do it at home; some initially need dressing changes several times daily. Ask for a demonstration and an individual change schedule.²

Write down the steps while they are being explained. Ask which products belong in the routine, how to remove the dressing and who to contact if you cannot manage a change. If you need help reaching the area, discuss that while the plan is being made.

3. How will I keep the supplies available?

Cost and preferences are among the factors the AAD says should guide wound-care choices. Explain how many dressings you use during a workday and ask about prescriptions, coverage or other supply arrangements available through your service. Get a contact route for problems with the plan.²

The BAD describes HS treatment as individualized and may include medication, surgery and wound care. Ask how the dressing routine fits the treatment for your condition, and when the team will review it. A dressing plan is one part of that care discussion.¹

Skin, Head to Toe includes a Skin Log and visit script. Use them to organize observations and practical questions alongside your dermatology team’s wound-care instructions. See the book.