Beyond Resolutions: A Real-World Plan for Your HS in 2026
Right, it’s the end of January. The gyms are still rammed, the juice cleanses are in full swing, and everyone is talking about their “New Year, New Me” resolutions. For those of us living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, this time of year can feel like a proper kick in the teeth. The pressure to be positive and full of aspirational energy is immense, but it’s bloody hard to feel optimistic when you’re in the middle of a flare-up that feels like it’s been going on since last November.
But that doesn’t mean we have to just write the whole year off. Forget vague resolutions. Let’s talk about real, tangible actions. Here are three things we can actually do, right now, to take back a bit of control in our fight with HS.
1. Audit Your GP: The Search for a Unicorn
If you’re not happy with the service you’re receiving from your GP, it’s time to change things. I know, I know—the very thought of navigating the broken NHS system is enough to make you want to lie down in a dark room. It’s a bureaucratic nightmare. But because it is so broken, it’s vital that we advocate for ourselves.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a specific doctor within your practice, one you haven’t seen before. If nobody in the surgery seems to get it, don’t be afraid to change your GP surgery entirely. It’s a massive faff, I grant you, but finding a GP who genuinely listens, who has even a basic knowledge of HS, is like finding a unicorn. They are out there, but they won’t come to you. It’s a fight, but it’s a fight worth having.
2 – Look to the Horizon: The Search for New Weapons
It’s easy to think that nobody cares, that we’re completely on our own in this fight. I’ve felt like that for years. But the reality is, things are changing. Thanks to incredible breakthroughs in computing power and AI, the cost of pharmaceutical research is getting cheaper, and more companies are finally turning their attention to diseases like ours. There is a quiet revolution happening in medicine.
Spend some time doing some proper research. Look into what clinical trials are happening. Use the power of modern AI tools (I find Perplexity is a fantastic option) to search for new and upcoming treatments for HS. Just knowing that there are brilliant minds out there working on new weapons for our arsenal is a powerful antidote to despair. It’s a path I’m exploring myself, and it’s a genuine source of hope.
3. Find Your Tribe: The Power of a Shared War
If you are still fighting this battle alone, 2026 is the year you change that. As my mum always said, a problem shared is a problem halved. For years, I was a lone warrior, but reaching out to the community has changed my life. I now have incredible friends like Taylor in the US and Marcus in Austria—fellow warriors I met simply by reaching out online. We get it. We don’t have to over-explain the exhaustion, and that connection is better than any therapy.
But for those of you in the UK and Ireland, there’s an even more direct path. You don’t have to search for your tribe—it’s already here, and the door is open.
A fantastic organisation, the HS Support Network UK & Ireland, hosts monthly Zoom calls for our community. They have sessions with healthcare professionals, but more importantly, they host a “peer-only” call where we can just talk to each other, warrior to warrior. It is a brilliant, safe space to share our struggles.
And building on that, something new and vital is happening. I recently spoke with Angela, the incredible founder of the network, and put forward the idea for a dedicated space for the lads. This nudge has led to the creation of the first-ever Men-Only Peer Support Group, which I’m proud to be a part of facilitating alongside Barry and Heath.
Here is your invitation and your first actionable step of 2026:
- The first Men-Only call is taking place on the 10th of February, at 7pm. If you are a bloke with HS, this is your space. No pressure, no judgment, just a place to connect with others who understand. This first meeting will be for us to explore what we want this space to be and how we want it run – please come along and have your say in shaping this vital resource for us.
- Join the regular monthly calls. For everyone, these calls are a lifeline – this months session with a healthcare professional is taking place on Wednesday the 28th of January at 7pm. This months session will be on Psychological well-being and the guest speaker is Dr Eleanor Chatburn.
- I will also be co-hosting sessions this year on crucial topics like “Benefits & Employment” and “Dating & Sexuality with HS.”
There is no excuse to fight alone anymore. This community is real, it’s here, and it’s waiting for you. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness; it’s an act of defiance. To sign-up, please email Angie at: HSSNUKANDIRELAND@OUTLOOK.COM (the full yearly schedule will be displayed below this blog entry)
The point of all this is to refocus. It’s about taking small, deliberate steps to reclaim your power. Every act of self-advocacy, every piece of research, and every new connection—especially joining these calls—is a way to rebalance that feeling of hopelessness with a sense of purpose. And that, I believe, is what we are all searching for.
A happy new year, warrior. I hope 2026 is a good one, and I hope to see some of you on that call in February.
