UC Davis

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic disease of the follicular unit that often leads to marked impairment of quality of life and usually affects the axillary, perineum and inframammary regions resulting in tender subcutaneous nodules, abscesses, fibrosis and sinus tract formation. New updates on HS underscores the role of various genes as well as the innate and adaptive immune response in its pathogenesis. Although every patient requires an individualized approach to treatment, topical therapy and antibiotics are mainly used for mild to moderate disease, whereas various systemic immune modulators and/or surgical approaches play a pivotal role in moderate to severe disease. New treatments using various immune modulators, laser modalities and other novel agents provide clinicians with better ways of managing HS.