Hidradenitis Suppurativa

�Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Acne Inversa and many other names) is a rare skin disease that affects an estimated 1% of the population. It is non-contageous and often misdiagnosed. HS affects the apocrin glands leading to lesions that are recurrent and extremely painful. The lesions can be as small as a pea or as large as baseballs . Often they will burst and drain, but are hard to heal, often leading to constant draining with chronic pain. Mosre often than not, the sufferer will feel tremendous relief when the lesion does burst, relieving the pressure that has built up within the wound.

The lesions are boil-like, yet show negetive results upon cultures. The apocrin glands most commonly affected are in the areas of the armpit, under the breasts, in the groin and inner thigh area, and the buttocks. It is seen in other areas such as the neck, face, stomach and back.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa is NOT caused by weight, lack of hygeine, social status, wealth, color, or religion. It IS possibly genetic.

There is NO cure for HS. There are treatments but they are a crap shoot honestly speaking. What may help one person may do nothing for another. Most physicians prescribe long term antibiotics. Any HS sufferer can attest to the fact that they do not help. Since cultures show HS lesions are not a bacterial infection, the antibiotic prescription is often just a doctor's way of saying "I don't know". Upon pressure, the doctor will say it is a preventative. To keep an infection at bay.

HS leads to extensive scarring, sinus tracts or tunnels under the skin. A lesion may appear but may drain in an other area due to the tract or tunnel. The abcesses or lesions are often connected due to the tracts and sometimes an infection can set in because of the tunneling. This is when antibiotics are needed.

Often, sufferers, when at their wits end, can and will get the abcess or lesion extracted or cut by a physician leading to premature bursting leading to relief... sometimes. Getting this painful treatment is NOT a cure. Some sufferers opt for surgery where a physician removes the area and have skin grafts. This is NOT a cure. Often times the sufferer continues to have flares. Especially if any (even the tiniest) area of the apocrin gland is not removed.

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As you can see by the illustration at the left,

the physician must cut extremely�deep leading to

further disfigurement of the patient.

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Some things sufferers have been able to piece together about this disease is: It appears to be hormonal, often flaring with a womans mentrual cycle, it flares during times of stress. Some sufferers find a link with diet and ingestion of certain foods.

It appears in men and women but appears to be more common in women. Perhaps because women seek a physician regarding it more than men. It is thought it may be more common than just the 1% of the population but people are too embarrassed to seek medical treatment.

There are three stages of this disease and some suffers have died due to cancers appearing in the areas of their lesions.�

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For more information on this disease please visit:

http://www.hs-foundation.org/��

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�Here is a wonderful poem about HS. I'm not sure of the author.

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Hidradenitis Suppurativa? "The Need for Answers"

Hidradenitis Suppurativa?
What causes you to happen?
What makes you have to stay?
Why can't we find a cure for you?
Why won't you go away?

How many have you stricken?
How many feel the pain?
When Hidradenitis Suppurativa
It's you that is to blame.

The life we knew erodes away
never more to be the same.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
You really are a shame.

You rob of us of our dignity.
You rob us of our lives.
Few doctors seem to know or care.
And most that do use knives.

Hidradenitis doesn't answer,
Know its victims, much less care.
It just grabs hold and won't let go.
Hidradenitis Suppurative just simply isn't fair.

So let's all get together as family and friends.
Find answers to the questions on which we all depend.
And by our collective strength and will
Bring Hidradenitis Suppurativa to its end. �