HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa, is a long-term skin condition. It causes persistent or recurrent lumps (abscesses) and scarring.
Hidradenitis suppurativa is an inflammatory condition. It particularly affects skin where there are sweat glands. These include the armpits, groin, bottom and under the breasts.
Hidradenitis suppurativa usually starts around puberty. It is more common in women than men.
Symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa
Symptoms range from mild to severe.
Hidradenitis suppurativa causes a mixture of boil-like lumps, blackheads and cysts. It also causes scarring and channels in the skin that leak pus. DermNet has pictures that show what these symptoms look like.
Hidradenitis suppurativa can be painful.
Diagnosing hidradenitis suppurativa
There is no definitive test to help diagnose hidradenitis suppurativa.
Your health professional will examine the affected areas of skin. They will diagnose hidradenitis suppurativa by the appearance of the skin and where the lumps are. Also, the fact that they keep recurring.
Self-care for hidradenitis suppurativa
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Stop smoking if you smoke.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Be careful when removing skin hair. Apply shaving cream or gel when wet shaving. Consider laser hair removal instead.
If you have an area of skin that has broken open, use an antiseptic skin cleanser for 5 days.
Options include using a vinegar soak solution twice a day. You can make the solution by adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar to 2 cups of warm water. Store the vinegar soak solution in the fridge.
You can also use benzoyl peroxide 5% wash (available at supermarkets) or chlorhexidine or Octenisan (available at pharmacies).
Put the cleanser on your wet skin in the shower and leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it off.
Treating hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a lifelong, recurring condition that can be difficult to manage. But the symptoms may improve or eventually stop with treatment.
You may be given a 3-month course of antibiotics. This can reduce inflammation on your skin, which can help reduce the number of lumps that develop.
There are medications that may reduce flare-ups. These include metformin, spironolactone and the combined oral contraceptive pill.
If you have a severe condition, a skin specialist (dermatologist) may suggest other medications. These may include immunosuppressive medications (biologics) such as adalimumab.
Surgery is sometime needed to drain a collection of fluid. Rarely, an area of skin with severe disease may be cut out. Unfortunately, this does not cure the underlying hidradenitis suppurativa that can recur in another area.
Support with hidradenitis suppurativa
Having hidradenitis suppurativa can have a significant impact on your quality of life. You may need support in looking after your mental health and wellbeing.
You may like to join the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Australia/New Zealand Facebook group.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- DermNet NZ– Hidradenitis suppurativa
More detailed information about hidradenitis suppurativa.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page created April 2024.
SourcesReview key: HIHIS-1339602
