Why does a gland stay clogged? The answer lies in a positive feedback loop of destruction.
For decades, HS was called “acne inversa,” a misnomer that belies its severity. Unlike a blackhead, an HS flare is a deep, painful nodule that forms when a hair follicle and its attached sweat gland become obstructed. The contents—sweat, sebum, bacteria, and keratin—have nowhere to go. The gland distends, ruptures into the surrounding tissue, and triggers a massive inflammatory response. sweat glands clogged
“I was told to ‘scrub harder’ by a dermatologist,” says Maria, a 34-year-old teacher from Texas who has lived with stage 2 HS for a decade. “Scrubbing made it worse. I had tunnels in my armpits that smelled like rotting onions. I stopped raising my hand in class. I stopped hugging my husband.” Why does a gland stay clogged