Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a chronic skin condition that is identified the by the appearance of blackheads and a number of lesions or tender, red bumps. These lesions oftentimes enlarge, break and then drain with pus. After several occurrences of such condition it will leave scars on the skin. This condition is considered as an acute form of acne inversa.
Hidradenitis suppurativa occurs deep within the skin, around the hair follicles and oil glands. These are commonly seen appearing around the armpits and groins which are the main locations of the apocrine sweat glands. Hidradenitis suppurativa usually starts after puberty, and will persist for many years after its first occurrence and the condition only worsens with time. When a person suspects the occurrence of such condition in his or her body, early diagnosis and treatment will help alleviate the symptoms and lessen the development of new lesions.
Symptoms and Causes
The condition usually happens around the hair follicles where there are many sweat and oil glands such as the anal, groin and armpit areas. Oftentimes it happens on areas where the skin rubs each other like under the breasts, between the buttocks or inner thighs. This condition can either affect a single or multiple areas of the body. Some of the signs and symptoms include:
• Leaking sores or bumps – the wounds that result from the leaking sores or bumps heal very slowly. Sometimes this leads to scarring of the skin and the appearance of tunnels under the skin.
• Pea-sized lumps that are painful – these are hard lumps which appear under the skin and oftentimes persist for many years, and typically enlarge and inflate as time goes by.
• Tender, reddish bumps – these lesions or bumps often grow big, crack open and drain the pus that had accumulated inside. The fluid from within may leave an unpleasant odor. Excessive sweating, burning and itching may occur together with the bumps.
• Blackheads
Hidradenitis suppurativa oftentimes begins during puberty with only one painful bump that continues for several weeks or months. In some cases, the condition progressively worsens and then affects various areas of the body. In other cases, individuals only experience mild symptoms. Excessive sweating, heat, hormonal changes, stress or excess weight may contribute in the worsening the symptoms.
Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa
It is a necessity to seek medical attention when the condition worsens. Mild cases can be treated with self-care measures although you may need to seek advice from medical professionals. When it comes to worse conditions, it is best to consult a doctor specializing in skin care such as a dermatologist. Most of the time medical professionals or specialists give surgery or prescription medications in order to manage the condition.
There is no cure for hidradenitis suppurativa. Early diagnosis and treatment is best suited to such condition as it will help lessen the symptoms and halt the progress of the skin disease. The treatment medical professionals are going to conduct will depend on the extent of affected areas and if the sores are either infected or painful. The possible medications doctors may prescribe to their patients could be antibiotics, NSAIDs, immunosuppressant drugs, oral retinoid medications, or TNF-alpha inhibitors.
