The Scariest Side Effects of Hidradenitis Suppurativa—And How to Stay In Control
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Most skin diseases are unpleasant to live with, but hidradenitis suppurativa is one that can become much more than just uncomfortable and unattractive. While other skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis can also become severe and significantly impact your quality of life, hidradenitis suppurativa—also known as HS or acne inversa—has the potential to become extremely painful, socially debilitating, and even life-threatening. That’s why if you think you have HS, it’s so important to visit a dermatologist (or other qualified healthcare provider) to explore treatment options. It’s also important to understand both the milder and more serious symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa, as well as the lifestyle changes that can help you stay in control of this challenging (and non-curable) skin disease.
To begin with the basics, hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin disease that experts think originates with an overactive immune system, which leads to excessive inflammation around sweat glands and hair follicles. The first sign that someone has HS is usually a smattering of red, painful lesions on certain areas of the body, often the armpits, inner thighs, buttocks, or groin area. These may be mistaken for pimples at first, then grow larger and much more painful. HS flare-ups may involve a combination of blackheads, firm nodules, and softer abscesses—pus-filled cysts under the skin that can sometimes break open and release foul-smelling liquid. In severe cases, affected areas may also develop sinus tracts, tunnels that form underneath the skin. If left untreated, HS can lead to serious health problems. Here are some of the scarier complications that can arise for people living with HS, plus tips on how to stay healthy and maintain a better quality of life if you have this relatively common skin disease.
Blood infections and sepsis
One way in which HS can quickly get dangerous: If bacteria get trapped in a clogged, inflamed hair follicle, this can lead to an infection that can spread to the skin or blood. In extreme cases, people with HS develop sepsis, a rare but life-threatening complication in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Symptoms include high fever, trouble breathing, and low blood pressure and require a trip to the emergency room. Another condition to look out for: An infection of the skin called cellulitis, which involves red streaks, pain, and fever. To help avoid these complications, always avoid squeezing HS lesions, and use proper wound care (below).
Cancer
A rare but real complication of severe HS: If inflammation in the skin is allowed to continue uncontrolled for years, this can lead to skin cancer and other cancers. People with HS have a 50 percent higher risk of getting cancer, according to a 2024 research review in the journal Annals of Medicine. One specific risk to be aware of: Long-lasting, untreated HS lesions can turn into a cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer. It is curable if diagnosed and treated promptly; your dermatologist can provide careful screening. A treatment plan for HS that includes medications like biologics can help fight inflammation to help prevent the increase in cancer risk associated with this skin disease.
Heart attacks and stroke
People with HS also have an increased risk of experiencing serious cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, according to a study published in 2019 in the journal JAMA Dermatology. This is again a result of the chronic inflammation involved with hidradenitis suppurativa. People with HS are also at a much higher risk of having metabolic syndrome, a disorder that can lead to complications like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBS, is a general term for conditions that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. People with HS appear significantly more likely to develop IBS, according to a study published in 2019 in the journal JAMA Dermatology. If you have HS and frequently experience symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramping, or bloody stool, it’s important to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Staying Healthy With Hidradenitis Suppurativa
The good news: There are lots of steps you can take to keep yourself healthy while living with HS. Proper wound care is important to relieve pain and prevent infections that can lead to serious health problems. Open abscesses should be gently cleaned, after which you can apply a topical antibiotic (ask your healthcare provider for recommendations) and a sterile, non-adhesive dressing, to promote faster healing. Your skincare routine can involve using an antiseptic cleanser, to help kill bacteria that contribute to symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa, as well as infections.
Certain lifestyle changes can help minimize the symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa and prevent longer-term complications. A big one is committing to maintaining a healthy weight; obesity puts you at a higher risk of developing HS, and weight loss has the potential to reduce the severity of flare-ups or even put the skin disease into remission. Same goes for smoking—quitting is a lifestyle change with major potential to minimize symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa (not to mention benefit your overall skin health, and health in general). Another lifestyle change to consider: Doing laser hair removal, which zaps hair follicles and sweat glands to help minimize HS flare-ups. Shaving, on the other hand, can lead to inflammation and exacerbate flare-ups, so it’s best to avoid affected areas.
Finally, it’s also important to pay attention to your mental health when you have hidradenitis suppurativa; people with HS have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Seek out a support group online or locally—the good news is, you’re far from the only person out there dealing with the stress of this condition, and people with HS are often eager to share home remedies, treatments, tricks, and tactics that have helped improve their quality of life.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
