Workplace Toolkit and Real Stories

I spent two years hiding my HS at work before I finally requested a remote work accommodation. I was terrified my employer would think I was using my condition as an excuse. Instead, my HR department was completely professional about it, asked for documentation from my dermatologist, and approved the accommodation within two weeks. Working from home has changed everything. I can manage my wound care without the social anxiety, I can adjust my position throughout the day, and I have more energy for actual work because I am not spending it on concealment.

Working in healthcare with HS is complicated. The infection control requirements, the long shifts, the physical demands. I worked with occupational health at my hospital to develop a wound management protocol that met clinical standards. I also requested a schedule modification to avoid back-to-back 12-hour shifts, which was approved. The hardest part was telling my charge nurse. I kept it brief: I have a chronic skin condition that requires wound management during shifts, and I need access to a private space for that. She was more understanding than I expected.

I was called into HR because a customer had complained. I was mortified. But my HR manager was actually kind about it. She asked if I had a medical condition that was contributing to the situation, and when I said yes, she immediately shifted the conversation to accommodations. We worked out a plan that included a dress code modification, access to a private restroom for wound care, and a standing mat at my workstation. It took me years to learn that HR conversations about medical conditions do not have to be adversarial.

Teaching with HS is physically and emotionally demanding. I am on my feet for hours, I cannot easily step away from a class, and the emotional labor of teaching on top of chronic pain is significant. I requested a stool at the front of my classroom and a modified schedule that gave me a preparation period between my most physically demanding classes. I also started seeing a therapist who specializes in chronic illness, which has been as important as any physical accommodation. The shame and hypervigilance were affecting my teaching more than the physical symptoms.