Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)

Also known as acne inversa, HS results in painful lumps that form underneath the skin. The lumps often occur in areas where the skin rubs against itself, such as the groin, armpits, and joints.

Severity

Though the disease is generally not life-threatening, it may become detrimental to health if a severe infection develops.

Affected Demographic

Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a rare disease that affects less than 200,000 people in the United States, which is approximately 0.1% of the population. A majority of HS cases lie in patients that are ages 20-40 years old, and women are more likely to acquire the disease than men.

Treatment

Treatment options for Hidradenitis Suppurativa can be quite varied, including antibiotics, antiseptics, retinoids, contraceptives, immunosuppressive treatments, steroids and surgery.

Sources

1. McMillan, Kathleen. “Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Number of Diagnosed Patients, Demographic Characteristics, and Treatment Patterns in the United States.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 8 May 2014, academic.oup.com/aje/article/179/12/1477/135435.

2. Patel, Amie, et al. “Hidradenitis Suppurativa in the United States: Insights From the National Inpatient Sample (2008-2017) on Contemporary Trends in Demographics, Hospitalization Rates, Chronic Comorbid Conditions, and Mortality.” Cureus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9170363/.

3. NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/conditions/hidradenitis-suppurativa/.