Hidradenitis suppurativa

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Hidradenitis suppurativa or HS is a poorly studied skin disease that affects the sweat (apocrine) glands primarily located in the underarms, groin, and under the breasts in women. The disease is chronic and can progress to severely painful and debilitating. It is considered a rare disease, with an incidence rate of 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 300 people, but because it is difficult to diagnose and can easily be mistaken for acne, many sufferers go undiagnosed and improperly treated.

Table of contents

1 Stages
2 Causes
3 Treatment
4 External links

Stages

HS presents itself in three stages:

a few minor sites with rare inflammation; may be mistaken for blackheads.
frequent inflammations restrict movement and require minor surgery.
inflammation of sites to the size of golf balls, or sometimes baseballs; scarring develops, including subcutaneous tracts of infection. Patients in this stage may be unable to hold down a job.

Causes

As this disease is poorly studied, the causes are controvertial and experts disagree. However, potential indicators include:

post-pubescent
females are more likely than males
ingrown hairs
plugged sweat gland
excessive sweating
use of anti-perspirant or deodorant
bacterial infection
linked to some immunodeficiency conditions
genetic predisposition

Treatment

Treatment may vary depending upon the stage of the disease.

Will resolve in 10-30 days on its own. Otherwise, warm compresses, oral antibiotics (treat inflammation and any bacterial component)
Oral antibiotics, inscision and drainage, oral contraceptives
Wide local excision (with or without skin grafting), laser surgery, radiotherapy

External links

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