Hidradenitis suppurativa is an evil, evil disease

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin disease characterized by clusters of abscesses and cysts that most commonly affects apocrine sweat gland bearing areas, such as the underarms, under the breasts, inner thighs, groin and buttocks. The disease is not contagious. HS cysts can be extremely tender and may persist for years with interspersed periods of inflammation, culminating in incision and drainage of pus from the cyst. This process often forms open wounds that will not heal and frequently leads to significant scarring. Incision and drainage procedures may provide symptomatic relief. HS flares may be triggered by sweating, hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle), humidity and heat, and friction from clothing.

Persistent lesions may lead to the formation of sinus tracts, or tunnels connecting the abscesses or infections under the skin. At this stage, complete healing is usually not possible, and progression is variable, with some experiencing remission for months to years at a time, while others may worsen and require multiple surgeries. Bacterial infections and cellulitis (deep tissue inflammation) are other common complications of HS. Depression and physical pain are often seen with HS and can be difficult to manage.

HS often goes undiagnosed for years due to a delay in seeking treatment and is frequently misdiagnosed. There is currently no known cure nor any consistently effective treatment. HS is an orphan disease due to sparse research efforts. Sufferers may gain insight into how best to control their flare-ups by following blogs written by fellow sufferers.