Hidradenitis Suppurativa Information

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic suppurative and scarring disease

of the skin and subcutaneous tissue occurring in the axillae, the

anogenital regions, and under the female breast. The disease does not

appear until after puberty, and most cases develop in the second and

third decades of life. Studies show clustering in families. A familial

form with autosomal dominant inheritance has been described.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is now believed to be a disease of the

follicle rather than one beginning in the apocrine glands. Like acne,

the initial event may be the formation of a keratinous follicular plug.

The plugged structure dilates, ruptures, becomes infected, and

progresses to abscess formation, draining, and fistulous tracts. In the

chronic state, secondary bacterial infection probably is a major cause

of exacerbations.

A hallmark of hidradenitis is the double or bridged comedone, a

blackhead with two or sometimes several surface openings that

communicate under the skin. This distinctive lesion may be present for

years before other symptoms appear.

There is a great variation in clinical severity. Many cases, especially

of the thighs and vulva, are mild and misdiagnosed as recurrent

furunculosis. The disease is worse in the obese. Those patients who

gain weight will often develop lesions between newly formed folds of

fat.

The primary lesions are painful red papules and abscesses and inflamed discharging papules or nodules. These heal forming dermal contractures and ropelike elevation of the skin.