How do you describe hidradenitis suppurativa?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (hi-drad-uh-NIE-tis sup-yoo-ruh-TIE-vuh) is a condition that causes small, painful lumps to form under the skin. The lumps usually develop in areas where your skin rubs together, such as the armpits, groin, buttocks and breasts.

What is the best treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa?

Treatment

• Antibiotics applied to the skin. Mild symptoms might be managed with a topical antibiotic in liquid or gel form.
• Steroid injections. Triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog-10) injected into the sores might help reduce swelling and inflammation.
• Hormonal therapy.
• Biologics.
• Retinoids.
• Pain medication.

How do doctors test for HS?

There is no specific test for HS, and it is often misdiagnosed in the early stages. To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will ask about your medical history and your symptoms. He or she will look at the lumps on your skin and test a sample of the skin or pus (if there is any).

What triggers hidradenitis suppurativa?

What causes hidradenitis suppurativa? The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa is unknown, but the lumps develop as a result of blocked hair follicles. Smoking and obesity are both strongly associated with hidradenitis suppurativa, and if you’re obese and/or smoke it will make your symptoms worse.

What are the 3 stages of hidradenitis suppurativa?

HS is divided into three stages, based on how severe it is, called Hurley stages.

• Hurley stage I: A single bump with no sinus tracts.
• Hurley stage II: More than one bump but little tunneling.
• Hurley stage III: Multiple bumps with a lot of sinus tracts and scars, involving an entire area of your body.

Can HS stay mild forever?

There’s no cure for HS, so you’ll have to manage the condition for life. For most people, it’s a cycle of flare-ups and periods when their skin is clear. Breakouts tend to happen in the same general areas of your skin. But you may have a spot that stays broken-out all the time.

Does HS show up in blood work?

Blood tests can help confirm a diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa. If pus is present, your doctor may also take a biopsy (a skin sample) of it to rule out other skin conditions.

Does HS get worse with age?

Will it get worse? HS is called a progressive disease. That means it often gets worse over time.

What does Stage 1 HS look like?

Stage 1 hidradenitis suppurativa The first signs of stage 1 HS is usually a single, or multiple lesions (boil like lesions or abscesses). These are typically located in an area like the armpit, groin, thighs, buttocks, under the breasts. They can occur in more intimate areas like the genitals or around the anus.

Does HS shorten your life?

The mean age at death was lower in individuals with HS than in controls (60.5 years vs 71.1 years in people with psoriasis and 75.2 years in people with nevi). The most common cause of death in the HS group was disease of the circulatory system.

Is HS a autoimmune disease?

While people sometimes use the term “autoimmune disease” to describe HS, research has shown that it’s actually a systemic inflammatory condition that’s related to the immune system.

Does HS qualify for disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) as a potentially disabling disease. For HS to be considered a disability, your symptoms must be severe enough to keep you out of work for 12 months or longer.

Is HS considered an autoimmune disease?

What kind of doctor should I See for hidradenitis suppurativa?

Ask where you have lumps,draining,and other signs of HS. HS tends to occur in certain areas.

Examine some (or all of) the lesions. HS has certain features,which to the trained eye,distinguish it from acne,boils,or other conditions.

Talk with you about the lesions.

What do you need to know about hidradenitis suppurativa?

Family history — It is possible to inherit a tendency to develop HS.

Friction — Some people with HS have said that friction from tight-fitting clothes has caused flare-ups.

Gender — Women have been found to be more likely to develop HS than men.

Smoking — Tobacco use has been linked to the condition’s development.

What is the prognosis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)?

Appear throughout your body (both on the surface and in deep layers of your skin)

Progress over time

Leave irreversible damage (like tracts and scars)

How does hidradenitis suppurativa affect the body?

Scarring. Scars can form where breakouts heal and then reappear.

Immobility. Painful sores and scars may restrict your movement.

Infection. Areas of your skin that drain or ooze can become infected.

Lymph drainage problems. Bumps and scars typically occur on areas of your body that are near lymph nodes.

Skin changes.

Depression.

Fistulas.

Skin cancer.