What is hidradenitis suppurativa and how does it manifest itself?
Hidradenitis suppurativa, also known as Verneuil's disease or acne inversa, is a chronic autoinflammatory disease, which presents with outbreaks of variable intensity, characterized by the presence of boils, painful nodules or abscesses that predominantly affect the large intertriginous areas of the body, especially the axillae, groin and anogenital region. It may progress to a chronic inflammatory state with formation of fistulous tracts, malodorous discharge, dermal fibrosis and hypertrophic scarring.
The origin of the disease lies in an immune system imbalance, with a genetic predisposition, estimating that 40% of patients have first-degree relatives affected. There are also exogenous factors that aggravate or trigger the disease such as smoking, obesity, the microbiome or alterations of the endocrine system.
How is hidradenitis suppurativa treated?
This pathology requires individualized and multidisciplinary care, where the primary care physician plays a fundamental role in the early diagnosis and therapeutic approach to the associated comorbidities.
