Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a chronic
suppurative, a disease of the
apocrine gland-bearing skin areas, mainly the
axillae (underarm) and
anogenital area. It is a disease that occurs in both males and females,
normally during puberty, but can also surface during or after pregnancy,
or during
menopause (for women). There is no known cause, and there is
no known cure.
Another name for this disease is
Verneuil's Disease. The earliest signs
are of a tender, inflammatory,
abscess like swelling in the affected
area. In women, they are commonly affected in axillary form, while men
are more prone to perianal form. There are, of course, exceptions.
Many sufferers of this disease have a history of recurrent
folliculitis,
irritation from antiperspirant or trama caused by shaving or wearing
tight clothing. While many sufferers also have a history of
obesity
and/or acne, it is not directly associated with the disease.
Within hours or days, the abscess grows in size, causing immense pain,
and if left untreated, it will eventually drain, perforating the
overlying skin. New
lesions in the area may develop in weeks to months
following the initial attack. Eventually,
sinus tracts are formed as
the disease becomes more chronic.
This disease is often considered a
disability, not allowing the
sufferer to perform normal tasks, either because of the pain or the
medication and
painkillers involved in treating it. While there is no
cure, there are ways to prevent attacks from surfacing. One known fact
is that it is directly related to stress - leading a less stressful life
could help control this disease. Other ways of preventing it to act up
are wearing loose, all cotton clothing, using
sensitive skin laundry
detergent, sensitive skin soaps and cleaners (
Neutrogena, Ivory), and
keeping good hygiene.
Despite this, many sufferers are prone to
depression, forced to live
with the shame of abscesses on their skin, living lives closed off from
the world. People do NOT get this disease by having poor
hygiene,
although it can be a factor. Many normal, healthy people are faced with
this, and in some studies it's shown more than 1% of the population
lives with this disease. Most sufferers are far too embarrassed or
shamed to be treated, though, and this is also a commonly
misdiagnosed
disease.
For more information on Hidradenitis Suppurative, or if you think you
may be suffering from it, there is a website called
H.I.D.E (Hidradenitis Information Development and Exchange) - http://members.nbci.com/capiii/indexfyi.htm