Hidradenitis suppurativa Totally Explained

Everything about Hidradenitis Suppurativa totally explained

Hidradenitis suppurativa or HS is a skin disease that affects areas bearing apocrine sweat glands and hair follicles; such as the underarms, groin and buttocks. It is more commonly found in women and can be present under the breasts.

Overview

The disease manifests as clusters of chronic abscesses or boils, which can be as large as baseballs or as small as a pea, that are extremely painful to the touch and may persist for years with occasional to frequent periods of inflammation, culminating in drainage of pus, often leaving open wounds that won't heal. Drainage provides some relief from severe, often debilitating, pressure pain. Flare-ups may be triggered by stress, perspiration, hormonal changes (such as monthly cycles in women), humid heat, and clothing friction. Persistent lesions may lead to scarring and the formation of sinus tracts, or tunnels connecting the abscesses under the skin. At this stage, complete healing is usually not possible, and progression varies from person to person, with some experiencing remission anywhere from months to years at a time, others may worsen and require surgery in order to live comfortably. Occurrences of bacterial infections and cellulitis (deep tissue inflammation) may occur at these sites. HS pain can be difficult to manage.
HS often goes undiagnosed for years because patients are too ashamed to speak with anyone. HS isn't contagious, and isn't affected nor caused by good or bad hygiene. HS is often called an 'orphan illness', due to little research being conducted on the disease at this time. Because HS is considered a rare disease, its incidence rate isn't well known, but has been estimated as being between 1:24 (4.1%) and 1:600 (0.2%).

Other names for HS Hidradenitis suppurativa has been referred to by multiple names in the literature, as well as in various cultures. Some of these are also used to describe different diseases, or specific instances of this disease.

Apocrine Acne - a misnomer, out-dated, based on the disproven concept that apocrine glands are primarily involved

Apocrinitis - another misnomer, out-dated, based on the disproven concept that apocrine glands are primarily involved

Fox-den disease - a catchy term not used in medical literature, based on the deep fox den / burrow - like sinuses

Hidradenitis Supportiva - a misspelling

Pyodermia sinifica fistulans - an older term, considered archaic now, misspelled here

Velpeau's disease - commemorating the French surgeon who first described the disease in 1833

Verneuil's disease - recognizing the French surgeon whose name is most often associated with the disorder as a result of his 1854-1865 studies

Stages

HS presents itself in three stages.

Stage	Characteristics
I	Solitary or multiple isolated abscess formation without scarring or sinus tracts. (A few minor sites with rare inflammation; may be mistaken for acne.)
II	Recurrent abscesses, single or multiple widely separated lesions, with sinus tract formation. (Frequent inflammations restrict movement and may require minor surgery such as incision and drainage.)
III	Diffuse or broad involvement across a regional area with multiple interconnected sinus tracts and abscesses. (Inflammation of sites to the size of golf balls, or sometimes baseballs; scarring develops, including subcutaneous tracts of infection - see fistula. Obviously, patients at this stage may be unable to function.)

Causes

As this disease is poorly studied, the causes are controversial and experts disagree. However, potential indicators include:

post-pubescent individuals are more likely to exhibit HS

females are more likely than males

genetic predisposition among families

plugged apocrine (sweat) gland or hair follicle

excessive sweating

bacterial infection

sometimes linked with other auto-immune conditions

androgen dysfunction

genetic disorders that alter cell structure

stress can bring on outbreaks

being overweight makes it worse, however this condition isn't caused by obesity and weight loss will improve but not cure it.

cigarette smoking tends to encourage outbreaks as well The historical understanding of the disease is that there's a dysfunctional apocrine glands possibly triggered by a blocked gland, creating inflammation, pain, and a swollen lesion. More recent studies imply there's an autoimmune component.
HS is not caused by any bacterial infection -- any infection is secondary -- and is therefore not contagious. Most cultures done on HS lesions come back negative for bacteria, so antibiotics should be used only when a bacterial infection has been confirmed by a physician.

Progression

During "flare-up" periods, the disease can be expected to take a predictable course, as described below. 1). The early stage is characterized by comedo formation (arrowhead). Note that the apocrine glands are unremarkable (arrow). Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: ×13 The disease process starts with follicular hyperkeratosis and dilatation of the follicular infundibula evolving into comedones, comparable to those observed in acne vulgaris (Fig. 1). 2). (a) Continuing dilatation of the follicular infundibulum leads to rupture into the surrounding dermis evoking an acute inflammatory infiltrate (arrowhead). The apocrine glands (arrows) are not involved. (b) Higher magnification of ruptured comedo. (c) Site of rupture (arrow) in another comedo. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: (a) ×4; (b) ×13; (c) ×165 At this time, the apocrine glands are not involved. Eventually the dilated follicular infundibulum ruptures, typically at the lower portion, and the content spills into the surrounding dermis, evoking an acute inflammatory response in the immediate vicinity of the rupture site (Fig. 2a–c). 3). (a)Over time, a granulomatous infiltrate (arrows) replaces the neutrophilic infiltrate and the process may remain confined. (b) Higher magnification of granulomatous infiltrate. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: (a) ×14; (b) ×162 Again, the apocrine glands don't show any signs of involvement nor an indication that they're the anatomical starting point of the sequence of events. If the inflammation remains confined to the immediate vicinity of the hair follicle, over time the initially neutrophilic infiltrate subsides and is gradually replaced by a granulomatous one, often with the addition of multinucleated foreign body giant cells (Fig. 3a–b). 4). (a) An abscess develops, if the inflammation following rupture of the comedo is more florid. Note that the apocrine glands are not involved (arrow). (b) Higher magnification of apocrine glands (arrow) in (a). Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: (a) ×21; (b) ×83 If, however, the acute inflammatory response following rupture is more florid, a large abscess develops which may extend into the subcutaneous tissue (Fig. 4a). 5). (a) Only if the inflammation spreads further do the apocrine glands become involved (arrow). (b) Then, neutrophils invade the glandular lumina (arrow) and the glands are destroyed. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: (a) ×21; (b) ×83 Apocrinitis only evolves by extension of the inflammatory process, leading to destruction of apocrine glands (Fig. 5a–b). 6). Naked hair shafts may be the only indication that the process started from the hair follicle. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: ×42 Apocrine glands located further away from the extending abscess are morphologically unremarkable. When extensive tissue destruction has ensued, naked hair shafts, surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate, are often the only indication that the process started from the hair follicle (Fig. 6). 7). Sinus tracts are a late sign of the disease. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: ×4. In an attempt of the tissue to confine the inflammatory reaction and to prevent further spread, remnants of the hair follicle epithelium proliferate and sinus tracts form, often surrounded by fibrosis (Fig. 7). 8). Figure 8 When they rupture, the disorder enters a vicious cycle. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: ×13 The sinus tracts communicate with the surface. Upon bacterial superinfection, they rupture and the process becomes self-maintaining and enters into a vicious cycle (Fig. 8). Sinus tract formation is the main reason for the chronicity of the disease.

Severe complications

Left undiscovered, undiagnosed, or untreated, the fistulas from severe stage-3 HS can lead to the development of squamous cell carcinoma in the anus or other affected areas.

Treatments

Treatments may vary depending upon presentation and severity of the disease. Due to the poorly-studied nature of this disease, the effectiveness of the drugs and therapies listed below isn't yet clear, and patients should discuss all options with their doctor or dermatologist. Nearly a quarter of patients state that nothing relieves their symptoms. A list of treatments that are possible treatments for some patients is as follows.

lifestyle

changes in diet.
warm compresses, baths (to induce drainage)

medication

Showering in Hexachlorophene liquid soap like Phisohex, covering sores with Metrolotion after medicated showers.
intralesional corticosteroid injections (to reduce inflammation) Usually Kenalog.
oral antibiotics (to treat inflammation and bacterial infection)
isotretinoin (Accutane), a prescription-only oral acne treatment (benefits for HS are very controversial, but it's generally considered to be ineffective)
anti-androgen therapy
sub-cutaneous injection or IV infusion of anti-inflammatory (anti-TNF-alpha) drugs such as infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel), and adalimumab. This use of the drugs isn't currently Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and is somewhat controversial, and therefore may not be covered by insurance.
Acitretin
Zinc gluconate taken orally has been shown to induce remission

surgery

incision and drainage or lancing
wide local excision (with or without skin grafting), or laser surgery
radiotherapy

Footnotes

Further Information

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