ABSTRACT
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin resulting in recurrent and deep inflammatory lesions. The natural history of HS involves recurrent flairs of inflammation within intertrigous skin and resulting fibrosis and fistulas, often associated with discharge of foul-smelling secretions. HS places a significant burden on the patient’s physical and mental well-being. The role of hormone abnormalities in HS has been investigated by P. S. Mortimer et al. who showed that anti-androgen therapy using cyproterone acetate was effective in clearing HS clinical symptoms, and that this effect was associated with a reduction in free androgen levels. In addition to genetics, there are many other factors associated with HS. Large series have shown significantly increased rates of obesity and diabetes in patients affected with HS compared to healthy controls. Follicular hyperkeratosis and perifolliculitis are the key histological features of HS.
