Facts you should know about hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa)
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a condition in which there are multiple abscesses that form under the armpits and often in the groin area. These areas are a result of local inflammation of the sweat glands.
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that most often affects the skin of the armpits and groin.
- Hidradenitis is not a form of acne, though it manifests as pimple-like bumps.
- Hidradenitis suppurativa produces deep, red, and tender abscess-like lesions that begin in the hair follicles in the skin.
- There is a heritable tendency to develop hidradenitis suppurativa.
- Bacteria play a supporting role in the development of hidradenitis suppurativa.
- The severity of hidradenitis suppurativa varies from mild to debilitating.
- Hidradenitis suppurativa is associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and depression.
- Treatment approaches vary from topical to systemic to surgical depending on severity.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa Sign
Drainage of Pus
Drainage of pus is a typical consequence of a bacterial infection. Bacterial infection can either be localized, such as an infection of a small cut or wound in the skin, or it may spread to involve larger areas of the body. A number of different infections can cause small bumps or nodules that may drain pus.
Read more about causes of pus drainage »
What is hidradenitis suppurativa?
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects hair follicles in the armpits and groin but occasionally may involve the buttocks and scalp.
- The lesions often first appear in puberty but may begin at any age. The lesions appear as tender, red abscesses that may drain.
- Severe hidradenitis suppurativa can involve larger areas of skin, producing multiple draining sinuses with scarring.
What causes and risk factors of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)?
Although as many as 40% of patients with HS have a family history of this condition, the precise genetic defect is poorly understood. Health researchers have found a defect in the gamma-secretase Notch signaling pathway in a few patients, but this basic cell regulatory pathway appears mutated only in a minority of those with HS. Patients with HS tend to be obese and frequently smoke. There is microscopic evidence that inflammation in the hair follicles is the seat of the problem and not the apocrine sweat glands as was originally believed. Ultimately, the precise cause is unknown.
The risk factors for hidradenitis suppurativa are:
- Obesity,
- high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia),
- diabetes,
- acne,
- arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease,
- polycystic ovarian syndrome, and
- depression.
What are hidradenitis suppurativa symptoms and signs?
Symptoms and signs of hidradenitis suppurativa include:
- Patients with the skin condition develop recurrent boil-like lesions in their armpits and groin (areas with sweat glands) that appear as painful, small lumps.
- The bumps or sores may begin to leak and drain pus.
- There are blackheads in areas of affected skin.
- Individual lesions may join to produce long draining sinus tracts or
tunnels that are tender and continually produce foul-smelling pus drainage. - When healing occurs, it often leaves multiple areas of unsightly scarring.
- Less commonly, lesions can involve the lower abdomen and the tissues under the breasts.
What types of physicians treat hidradenitis suppurativa?
Dermatologists are well equipped to care for patients with this condition although they may require surgical support if removal of significant portions of the armpits and groin are required for control.
How do health care professionals diagnose hidradenitis suppurativa?
- A patient with recurrent abscesses in the armpit, groin, or buttocks may well have HS.
- The condition may vary from mild to quite severe cases.
- Infections produced by bacteria or fungi need to be excluded because they often are quite curable with antibiotics, whereas HS is not. Doctors may check patients for immune deficiency diseases.
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What are treatments and home remedies for hidradenitis suppurativa?
Since this is a chronic recurrent condition, there are many treatment options depending on the severity.
- For a mild disease with infrequent lesions, doctors recommend that patients use topical antibiotics, lose weight, stop smoking, and avoid tight underwear.
- For more severe involvement, it may be necessary to add an oral antibiotic, such as doxycycline.
Since this is a chronic and difficult condition, doctors have proposed various other options, but most lack compelling evidence of efficacy. Physicians recommend finasteride (Proscar), a drug used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, as an option to treat HS in certain patients with resistant disease. In view of its cost and safety profile, it seems a reasonable alternative in patients who are unresponsive to conventional measures. There is anecdotal evidence that an oral retinoid, acitretin, can be of benefit.
The FDA recently approved a new injectable medication, adalimumab (Humira), for moderate to severe HS. Humira is one of a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, which intercept a chemical messenger of inflammation.
Occasionally, it may be necessary to resort to surgery to control and treat HS. It may be necessary for physicians to surgically open persistent chronic fistulous tracts to facilitate healing. Rarely, extensive removal of significant portions of axillary (armpit) or inguinal tissue may be required, followed by skin grafting.
What is the prognosis of hidradenitis suppurativa?
Since HS is a chronic, recurrent condition, a cure is unlikely, but with the advent of new drugs that are effective modulators of inflammation, it is reasonable to expect safe and effective control of this difficult condition.
Is it possible to prevent hidradenitis suppurativa?
Currently, there is no known method of prevention of HS.
