What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa besides a mouthful to say?
Hidradenitis Suppurativa, or HS for short, is a painful chronic inflammation of the apocrine glands. HS is believed to affect as much as 100,000,000 people worldwide. HS knows no limits of race, sex, age, region, behavior or other type of predisposition. HS has three stages, the first of which is an occassional flareup. The second is when it begins appearing in other places with the presence of developing sinus tracts. Once the third and final stage is reached the amount of pain the sufferer sustains is unmeasurable as the disease has built a complex network of tunnels to spread anywhere hair and/or sweat can be found. There are many views on the exact cause of the disease, but all recognize one thing. This disease needs to be better researched, and a clear scientific explanation along with an affordable solution found for the many sufferers worldwide.
From wikipedia.org:
The non-contagious disease manifests as clusters of chronic abscesses, epidermoid cyst, sebaceous cysts, pilonidal cyst or multi-localized infections, 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 incision and drainage of pus, often leaving open wounds that will not heal. The simple procedure of incision and drainage provides some relief from severe, often debilitating, pressure pain. Flare-ups may be triggered by severe stress, perspiration, hormonal changes (such as monthly cycles in women), humidity and heat, and clothing friction. Persistent lesions may lead to scarring and the formation of sinus tracts, or tunnels connecting the abscesses or infections 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, while others may worsen and require multiple surgeries in order to live comfortably. Wound dehiscence, a premature "bursting" open of a wound often complicates the healing process. Occurrences of bacterial infections and cellulitis (deep tissue inflammation) may occur at these sites. HS pain and depression can be difficult to manage.
HS often goes undiagnosed for years because patients are too ashamed to speak with anyone. When they do see a doctor or medical practitioner, the disease is frequently misdiagnosed or prescribed treatments are ineffective, temporary and sometimes even harmful. There is no known cure nor any consistently effective treatment. Carbon dioxide laser surgery is currently considered the last resort for those who have advanced to its highest stage, where the affected areas are excised, and the skin is grafted. Surgery doesn't always alleviate the condition, however, and can be very expensive.
Several articles and clinics consider this disease as widely misdiagnosed, due to the misunderstanding of the causes and progression of the disease. HS is neither the biblical stigmata, leprosy nor caused by poor 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 is not well known, but has been estimated as being between 1:24 (4.1%) and 1:600 (0.2%). Other more currently up to date sources suggest that as much as 6%-8% globally could be affected by this disease.
