Katy Shusta
Kathryn Shusta is a social worker and mental health advocate. She is obsessed with florals, Harry Potter trivia, and fighting injustice. To bring her joy, she likes to take wistful walks through meadows and go on boat rides.
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How I Practice Body Positivity While Living With Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Eighteen years ago, I started experiencing intermittent but recurring abscesses on my skin. These abscesses grew to the size of a golf ball and then drained. After they drained, they always left behind large purple-ish grey scars. These scars started to stitch together over time as more abscesses came and drained. After a while, they…
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How To Talk To Your Friends And Family About Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Because A Support Network Is Essential
Hidradenitis Suppurativa is not a rare disease. It is estimated that 1%-4% of the population has HS. It feels like a rare disease because it is simply unknown to many, Hidradenitis Suppurativa is just not yet part of society’s collective knowledge. When someone is diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, it can be isolating for this very…
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This Is How HS Impacts Mental Health, From Someone Who Has Had It For 17 Years
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes painful recurrent abscesses on the skin. These abscesses often appear in clusters close to each other and sometimes reoccur in the same spot. They scar the skin and sometimes leave sinus tracts under the skin, limiting mobility. They can occur anywhere on the body,…