I know that we do not know what causes HS, but I want to share with you what I think caused it for me.
It started around 14 years old, and so I've been dealing with this for 10+ years.
Around that time, when I was a sweaty teenager, my parents hooked me up with this deodorant called Transpiblock, and these are the ingredients I found online:
Alcohol Denat, Aluminum Chlorhydrate, Aqua, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer.
It was/is an unscented roll-on type of deodorant that claimed that a single application could last 3-5 days. It is also important to mention that they would advertise to use it as follows: you would shower, apply it after, and for the next 3-5 days you would only shower every day as usual, without needing to apply more deodorant.
Well, my very smart teenage mind decided to ignore that recommendation, and so, I started using it every day. I don't remember exactly, but I might have used it even twice a day sometimes. I know, it was very dumb of me, I was not realising that it could clog my pores. And I guess it worked? I was not sweating almost at all and also definitely not smelling bad.
I do not remember for how long I've used it, but certainly not too long after, I started developing HS.
Now I see discussions online and also here that anti-perspirants with aluminium actually DO help some people, so I am still conflicted.
I currently use diaper rash cream if I have an inflammation, and glycolic acid every other day.
I am curious to know if anyone had similar experiences.