Hidradenitis Suppurativa

This is one of the rarest skin diseases that exists. The origins of hidradenitis suppurativa is not known and it is a fairly debilitating condition.

Causes of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Its causes have yet to be discovered because there is so little known about the disease. Researchers believe their may be a link between Crohns disease and hidradenitis suppurativa, but even this link hasn’t been proven beyond a doubt yet. Some studies show that there may be a link between people that have had sexually transmitted diseases. Between normally healthy individuals and those with sexually transmitted disease there was an increase of four percent. For those who suffer from this disease have gained new hope since any new development means researchers are one step closer to finding a cure. Researchers have also found that the disease is not contagious but during the late months of pregnancy it can be passed from mother to child.

Diagnosis for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Most of the time a simple physical examination is all that is needed to diagnose hidradenitis suppurativa. The signs of the disease are not easy to overlook and are very specific. A doctor may want to order some tests on some occasions to be certain of the diagnosis.

A few other diseases present similarly to hidradenitis suppurativa that are just as rare but treatable. A skin culture will likely be ordered by a doctor to be sent out for testing. This will help to confirm a correct diagnosis and help separate it from the other lesser known and curable diseases.

A battery of blood tests may also be ordered by a doctor. In diagnosing hidradenitis suppurativa there are several tests that are reliable in helping to rule it out. In attempting to diagnose any skin condition that you may have you should check with your doctor about what is right for you.

Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa cannot be cured. There are only a few treatments that are viable and they don’t always work. The progression of the disease and the person who is being treated will affect the results of the treatment.

One of the treatment options is to drain the pus from the swollen areas that have become inflamed. It is believed that this process slows the progression of the disease and helps stop further damage of surrounding tissues. While this does hold some promise it is not definitive for all the sufferers of the condition in the world today.

A doctor may choose surgery as a viable option in certain instances. In some cases the removal of the enlarged lumps through surgery has been effective, the lumps do not return or they return to a lesser degree that is more manageable for the patient. For some doctors surgery is the last resort since it is invasive and can leave the patient with much pain after the procedure is complete.

The newest treatment option is radiation therapy. The affected area is targeted by a small and intense beam to effectively kill the bad tissue. Wide spread acceptance of this treatment hasn’t been gained since the tests are still ongoing but there is hope for sufferers.

In some cases, antibiotics have proven useful. Although the harsh effects on the body and its systems from this type of treatment leave doctor weary. However, some patients have marked improvement with this type of treatment.

Symptoms of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

There are three stages that hidradenitis suppurativa presents in. Each stage gets progressively worse until the disease is fully generated in the body. Large boils or pus filled sacks appear in the folds of the skin such as under the arms during the first stage. The infected areas of the body will seep a smelly yellow liquid similar to oozing. Then in the second stage the boils harden and seep even worse. Some notice that the smell is worse during the second stage and that the fluid has a sticky consistency.

During the final stage, tunnels form around and in between the boils while scars will start to form. This is the time when the pain becomes the worst for the disease and many people seek medical attention to get rid of the pain.

In some cases the disease presents quickly, but it is normally slow to progress. The symptoms gradually get worse as the disease progresses and the amount of skin that is affected continues to grow.

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