What is hidradenitis?
Hidradenitis, also known as hidradenitis suppurativa, is a condition causing painful, small lumps under your skin. These may heal slowly but recur over time and cause scarring or other unpleasant symptoms. Treatment with Houston Skin Associates can relieve discomfort and reduce the risk of complications.
What are the symptoms of hidradenitis?
Hidradenitis suppurativa may result in the following signs or symptoms:
- Painful lumps under the skin
- Blackheads
- Sores with blood or pus
- Tunnels under the skin
Painful lumps could last for several weeks or months before they heal. Hidradenitis bumps often appear in places where your skin rubs together, such as your buttocks, groin, armpits, or breasts.
Complications occurring with untreated hidradenitis might include infections, scarring, skin changes, skin cancer, and swelling, as well as restricted skin movement, depression, or anxiety.
What are the risk factors for hidradenitis?
While the exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa isn’t entirely clear, some factors increase your risk of experiencing it. Examples include:
- Excess body weight
- Smoking
- Family history of hidradenitis suppurativa
- Hormone changes
- Being in your 20s or 30s
- Being female
- Being African American
- Severe acne
- Some medical conditions
Medical issues that could increase your risk of hidradenitis suppurativa include diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic syndrome.
How does my doctor diagnose hidradenitis?
To diagnose hidradenitis and design a treatment plan, your dermatologist discusses your symptoms and reviews your medical history with you. Your specialist may take a sample of pus or drainage (if it exists) from skin spots and send it to a lab for analysis.
How is hidradenitis treated?
The primary treatments for hidradenitis include:
Medications
Applying antibiotics to your skin can reduce mild symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa. You might also take oral medications, try hormone therapy, or receive injections.
Laser therapy
Your specialist offers laser treatment to reduce hidradenitis suppurativa and its symptoms.
Surgery
Houston Skin Associates provides a variety of surgical procedures to help you better manage hidradenitis, remove affected tissues, or expose tunnels underneath your skin.
If you suspect you have hidradenitis suppurativa and want symptom relief, call the Houston Skin Associates office or schedule an appointment online today.
