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Dermatology · Hidradenitis Suppurativa · Private clinic in East London

Private hidradenitis suppurativa clinic in London, same-day dermatology.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) causes recurrent painful lumps and abscesses in the armpits, groin or under the breasts — early diagnosis reduces flares. Our private dermatology clinic in East London offers same-day hidradenitis suppurativa assessment with a private dermatologist, diagnosis and a clear treatment plan — usually without a referral and often the same day.

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Same-day
dermatology
Specialist-led
private dermatologist
No referral
needed

The condition

What is hidradenitis suppurativa?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) causes recurrent painful lumps and abscesses in the armpits, groin or under the breasts — early diagnosis reduces flares.

  • Recurrent boils & abscesses
  • Armpit & groin lumps
  • Sinus tracts & scarring
  • Flare management
  • Medical treatment
  • Specialist referral

Understanding hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis Suppurativa: symptoms, causes, tests & treatment

Seek urgent assessment if there is

  • spreading redness, fever or feeling systemically unwell
  • an area that is rapidly enlarging with severe pain out of proportion
  • a lesion that is bleeding heavily or will not stop discharging
  • a long-standing lesion that has changed, hardened or ulcerated
  • inability to walk, sit or move the arm because of pain

Long-standing hidradenitis carries a small risk of squamous cell carcinoma developing in chronic lesions, particularly in the buttocks and groin. Any lesion that changes character after years should be biopsied. In an emergency call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.

This is why antibiotics keep failing

Hidradenitis is an inflammatory condition of the hair follicle, not a primary infection. Follicles block, rupture into the surrounding tissue and provoke intense inflammation; bacteria are secondary. That is why each antibiotic course helps briefly and the lumps return, why washing more makes no difference, and why the condition needs anti-inflammatory treatment rather than repeated infection treatment. If you have been given flucloxacillin four or five times for 'boils' in the same place, the diagnosis is probably this.

Recognising it

  • painful lumps in the armpits, groin, inner thighs, buttocks, under the breasts — areas where skin rubs
  • lesions that recur in the same places, often before periods
  • tunnels (sinus tracts) under the skin that discharge fluid or pus, sometimes connecting lesions
  • rope-like scarring, and double-headed blackheads
  • usually begins after puberty, most often in the twenties, and is more common in women

The Hurley stages

Stage Iisolated lumps, no tunnels or scarring
Stage IIrecurrent lesions with tunnels and scarring
Stage IIIwidespread interconnected tunnels

What genuinely helps

  • Stopping smoking. The strongest modifiable factor by a distance — smoking is associated with more severe disease and poorer treatment response.
  • Weight loss where relevant, which reduces friction and inflammation.
  • Antiseptic washes such as chlorhexidine, and loose non-friction clothing.
  • Topical clindamycin for mild disease.
  • Oral tetracyclines for three months, or combination antibiotics for more severe disease — used for their anti-inflammatory effect, not as infection treatment.
  • Hormonal treatment — the combined pill or spironolactone — where flares are clearly cyclical.
  • Metformin, which helps some people, particularly with insulin resistance.
  • Biologic injections for moderate to severe disease. These have transformed outcomes and are the reason getting a proper diagnosis matters.
  • Intralesional steroid injection settles an individual painful lesion quickly.

Surgery

Simple incision and drainage relieves pain but the lesion reliably recurs, because the tunnel remains. Deroofing — opening a tunnel and leaving it to heal from the base — is a small procedure with a much lower recurrence rate and is under-used. Wide excision is used for extensive disease. Laser hair removal reduces new lesions in some people.

What else to check

Hidradenitis is associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and spondyloarthritis. It also carries a substantial burden of depression and anxiety — chronic pain, odour, discharge and the sites involved make it isolating, and that deserves treating alongside.

Dermatology services we offer

Expert skin care under one roof

From same-day GP treatment to consultant dermatology, mole checks and minor surgery — with a clear plan the same visit.

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Consultant dermatologist assessment.

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Mole & Skin Cancer Check

Expert mole checks and skin cancer screening.

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On site

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Removal of moles, cysts and lumps under local.

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Seen today, in three easy steps

1

Book in a minute

Book online any time or call reception — no GP referral needed for most skin appointments.

2

Seen quickly

A GMC-registered GP or dermatologist examines your skin and explains what it is.

3

Diagnosis & plan

You leave with a diagnosis, a prescription or procedure where needed, and a clear plan.

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Private assessment

See a private dermatologist for hidradenitis suppurativa in London

At our private dermatology clinic on Whitechapel Road in East London, you can see a private dermatologist or hidradenitis suppurativa doctor without a referral — most days, often the same day. A private GP in East London or consultant dermatologist will assess you, arrange the right tests and explain your diagnosis and treatment options clearly. We help patients across East London, Canary Wharf, the City, Docklands and Aldgate who want fast, private answers about hidradenitis suppurativa.

Book a private hidradenitis suppurativa assessment

Local, private, fast

A private dermatology clinic for East London & Canary Wharf

Tower Bridge Hospital is on Whitechapel Road in the heart of East London — minutes from Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands and Aldgate. Patients across Tower Hamlets, Wapping, Limehouse and Bethnal Green choose us for a fast, private hidradenitis suppurativa appointment with a dermatologist, without the wait or the referral.

Why choose us

Why choose our East London private dermatology clinic

  • Same-day, no referral — private GP and dermatology under one roof
  • Consultant dermatologists, GMC-registered
  • Dermoscopy & minor surgery on site for moles and lumps
  • Minutes from Canary Wharf & the City of London
  • Medical & cosmetic skin care in one place
  • Transparent pricing and a clear plan

Ready when you are

See a private dermatologist for hidradenitis suppurativa — the same day.

Book a private hidradenitis suppurativa assessment in East London: same-day appointments, dermatologist-led care and a clear plan. No referral needed.

Book same-day appointment 020 7916 0029

Common questions

Hidradenitis Suppurativa in London: your questions answered

Where can I find a private hidradenitis suppurativa specialist near me in East London?

Our private dermatology clinic is on Whitechapel Road in East London, minutes from Canary Wharf and the City. You can see a private dermatologist or hidradenitis suppurativa doctor for assessment and treatment, usually the same day and without a referral.

Can I see a private dermatologist for hidradenitis suppurativa the same day?

Yes. We hold same-day private appointments most days, including Saturdays, so you can be assessed by a dermatologist or GP quickly, with tests done in-house where possible.

How much does a private hidradenitis suppurativa appointment cost in London?

We keep pricing transparent — see our fees page or call 020 7916 0029, and we will explain the cost of the hidradenitis suppurativa assessment and any tests before you book.

Do I need a referral to see a private dermatologist for hidradenitis suppurativa?

No. You can book directly with our clinic. If you are unsure whether to start with a private GP or a dermatologist, we will guide you.

What is hidradenitis suppurativa?

A long-term skin condition where blocked hair follicles cause recurrent painful lumps; early treatment reduces flares and scarring.

Can HS be treated?

Yes — with medical treatment, lifestyle measures and, in some cases, procedures; our team plans this with you.

Which areas do you serve for private hidradenitis suppurativa care?

We see private patients from across East London, Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands, Aldgate, Wapping, Limehouse and Tower Hamlets.

Medically reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat — Clinical Director, GMC 7138332. Last reviewed August 2026 · next review August 2027. Written in line with our editorial & content-review policy, using guidance from the NHS, NICE and the relevant royal colleges. This information is general and does not replace personal medical advice.

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Mole checks & skin cancer screening.

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Minor Surgery

Mole, cyst and lump removal.

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Same-day GP in East London.

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In an emergency, call 999. Tower Bridge Hospital London is not an emergency service. Your nearest A&E is The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road E1 1FR — 5 minutes’ walk from our front door.

Areas we serve

Private hidradenitis suppurativa care in London & East London — Whitechapel, the City & Canary Wharf

Patients visit our Whitechapel clinic for private hidradenitis Suppurativa assessment and treatment from right across London and East London, the City and the Docklands — including Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Bow, Shoreditch, Canary Wharf, Stratford, Bermondsey and the surrounding areas. Same-day and walk-in appointments are available and you do not need a GP referral.

Easy to reach — minutes from the Royal London Hospital and Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Aldgate and Liverpool Street stations, and one stop from Canary Wharf on the Elizabeth line.

Private hidradenitis suppurativa treatment near me? If you are searching for private hidradenitis suppurativa treatment near me, a hidradenitis suppurativa doctor or specialist near me, or a private clinic near me in East London, our Whitechapel practice is on your doorstep — walk-in and same-day appointments, no GP referral, and no long NHS waiting list.

Book a same-day appointment or call 020 7916 0029. See our transparent fees. Open 7 days a week, 9am–7pm. Private clinic on Whitechapel Road, London E1 — serving Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Islington, the City of London and Southwark.

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