Advice on HS flares as a UK college student

Advice

So, I'm a UK college student, male, I've started becoming aware that I have HS around a year or so ago, during that time, it wasn't as bad or troublesome. However, as time went on I noticed it getting noticeably worse, I went to the GP to get it diagnosed, during that time I was put on a dermatology list. However I waited around 3 months during that time because the clinic that I was referred to had closed, I was given a wash to use which didn't really help.

Fast forward and I had my year 1 mock exams, during that time I had many flares and I couldn't physically go, this caused my college to withdraw me due to being unable to attend the mocks which were said to be vital to be able to progress into year 2. During that time, I had received antibiotics and sent a doctor's note to my college confirming why I couldn't attend on the days I missed but it didn't change much as the decision was finalised.

Now I am starting at a new college, during the period where I was withdrawn, I had gone to the GP again and was put on another dermatology list, I was also prescribed antibiotics for a few months and a different wash as the dermatologist had suggested.

Although it's the first week, due to how long my journey is by bus (around an hour and some) I have been getting many flares, I'm not sure how to communicate this with my current college as they also have to meet their attendance policy but at the same time this illness is very debilitating in many ways, if I try and push through a day, it would eventually get worse than before.

My question is, what are my options in this situation? I'm already on an urgent list and I can't do much more, I still want to continue with my education as much as others but attending is quite difficult.

Posted Sep 10, 2026, 7:15 PM UTC

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