FindCapitol.com | Content At Your Fingertips

Home - Diagnosis & Prevention - All You Need To Know About Hidradenitis Suppurativa

All You Need to Know about Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa, commonly referred to as acne inversa, is a chronic skin condition which is difficult and complicated to deal with. Triggered during puberty, teens, or 20s by unhealthy lifestyle habits, this condition is caused by a blockage in the apocrine glands. It is characterized by the appearance of painful bumps under the skin, in the hair roots, or near some sweat glands. They typically occur where skin rubs together, such as in the groin, armpits, and buttocks.

The lumps may break open and emit a bad smell or cause tunnels under the skin.

Hidradenitis suppurativa can persist for several years, and this skin condition usually worsens with time. It can impact one’s daily life as well as mental well-being. Therefore, it is vital to diagnose it in time so that a doctor can recommend appropriate treatment. With the right treatment, one can also prevent the formation of new lumps and other complications such as depression.

Common symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa typically occurs in areas surrounding the hair follicles. It may also appear in a single area or multiple parts of the body. Common signs and symptoms of this disease that you should watch out for include:

Red and tender bumps: The condition is often marked by small and tender red bumps which occur in areas where the skin rubs together. These bumps may become bigger and fill with pus. When this pus drains out, it may emit a bad odor. Itching and a burning sensation often accompany these bumps.
Blackheads: This is another common symptom of the condition. Small, pitted areas of the skin develop a lot of blackheads that appear in a double-barreled pattern.
Extremely painful lumps: Small, pea-sized lumps develop under the skin. These lumps may persist for years together, and at some point, may become swollen and inflamed.
Tunnels: This is the worst symptom where two lumps under the skin get connected through tracts, also known as tunnels. These tunnels may leak pus and take a lot of time to heal.

Hidradenitis suppurativa can start anytime, between puberty and the age of 40. It generally begins with a single bump that is painful and persists for a long time.

Some people experience mild symptoms, whereas others can go through excessively painful signs that affect multiple areas of the body. Certain factors like excess body weight, heat, humidity, and hormonal changes intensify this condition and increase the severity of the symptoms.

Stages of hidradenitis suppurativa
As discussed above, hidradenitis suppurativa generally begins with a single painful lesion in one area. This lesion may heal on its own within one month, or it may break open and release pus.

Slowly, new lumps begin to form. These lumps may vary in size, and they generally grow in size if the condition is not managed well. Narrow sinus tracts or tunnels under the skin may also form which may release pus when ruptured.

As there is no definite way to define the progression of this condition, it is widely categorized into three stages. These stages can be explained as:

Hurley Stage 1: In this stage, one or a few lesions will appear on the skin, with no sign of any scarring or tunnels.
Hurley Stage 2: Small pitted areas in the skin will show blisters along with the initial formation of sinus tracts or tunnels.
Hurley Stage 3: A lot of blisters will appear all over the body, and a network of sinus tracts will form under the skin which may leak pus when cracked.

It is best to click pictures of these lesions at specific time gaps to closely monitor the changes. These pictures can help the doctor in evaluating your condition and determining the stage of the disease.

Most commonly affected areas
The most commonly affected areas include:

Armpits
Groin
Underneath the breasts
Anus
Inner thighs
Buttocks

In the later stages of the disease, the blisters may also spread to the neck, face, back, sides, and waistband region.

When should one see a doctor?
The best way to reduce the impact of the symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa is by getting an early diagnosis. Therefore, it is vital to get medical help under the following conditions:

A bump forms that causes intense pain
The condition doesn’t improve in a couple of weeks
The bumps recur after a few weeks
The bumps appear in several areas of the body

Also, if you have hidradenitis suppurativa, it is crucial to know that the signs of recurrence are similar to the original symptoms. If the bumps reappear, it may indicate a severe complication. Therefore, immediate medical consultation is your best bet in such cases.

Disclaimer:

The content provided on our blog site traverses numerous categories, offering readers valuable and practical information. Readers can use the editorial team’s research and data to gain more insights into their topics of interest. However, they are requested not to treat the articles as conclusive. The website team cannot be held responsible for differences in data or inaccuracies found across other platforms. Please also note that the site might also miss out on various schemes and offers available that the readers may find more beneficial than the ones we cover.

Things You Should Know about Bone Density Tests

A Guide to Pollen Allergies

Popular Articles

All You Need To Know About Bleeding Gums

All you need to know about bleeding gums We often do not pay much thought to bleeding gums and shrug it off because they invariably happen when we brush or floss our teeth. We consider it as normal but it should not be ignored. Gum bleeding is a fairly common problem.

Understanding The Stages A Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a serious progressive condition affecting the pumping power of the muscles in the heart. It is generally called heart failure, but CHF specifically means the stage when fluid builds up all around the human heart resulting in inefficient pumping. There are a total of four heart chambers.

Deep Vein Thrombosis – Diagnosis And Treatment

Deep Vein Thrombosis – Diagnosis and treatment Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition where a blood clot occurs in one of the deeper veins in the body; usually in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis leads to symptoms such as swelling, cramps, and leg pain. In a few rare cases, there are no symptoms of deep vein thrombosis.

The Causes And Symptoms Of Carcinoid Neuroendocrine Tumors

The causes and symptoms of carcinoid neuroendocrine tumors The neuroendocrine system can be described as a network of glands producing hormones that are carried into the bloodstream. There are different roles that these hormones play in the human body. The carcinoid neuroendocrine tumor is a very rare tumor that shows up in the cells of the neuroendocrine system.

Carcinoid Neuroendocrine Tumors – Prognosis And Life Expectancy

Carcinoid neuroendocrine tumors – Prognosis and life expectancy The neuroendocrine system is a complex regulatory mechanism comprised of cells spread throughout several organ systems, including our lungs and digestive system. As they have characteristics of both nerves and endocrine cells, they are called neuroendocrine cells. The nerve cells transmit signals using electrical impulses, whereas endocrine cells make thyroid and insulin-secreting glands.

What Are The First Signs Of Liver Damage

Liver damage – What are the first signs? On the right side of the abdomen, below your rib cage, is an organ called the liver. It is the size of a football and is one of the most important organs in the human body. The liver aids in the digestion of the food we eat and also helps in flushing out the toxins from our body.

What Are The Causes And Symptoms Of External Hemorroids

What are the causes and symptoms of external Hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids, popularly known as ‘Piles,’ are enlarged or swollen blood vessels near the lower part of the rectum or anus. The inflamed veins are caused due to excessive pressure on the veins or extra strain during bowel movements. Hemorrhoids are very common in men as well as women in their middle age.

Home Remedies To Relieve Pain And Discomfort Due To Hemorrhoids

Home remedies to relieve pain and discomfort due to hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids are also known as “piles” as they are swollen or inflamed veins in and around the anus region of the body that cause severe pain, along with distress and bleeding. The swelling is caused due to increased pressure around the area or due to an injury during a bowel movement.