Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that causes tender bumps, painful nodules, and recurring boil-like lesions. These often appear in areas where the skin naturally folds or experiences friction, including the underarms, groin, buttocks, lower abdomen, and under the breasts. Some people know HS by its alternative name, acne inversa.
Many patients feel discouraged when symptoms begin, but it is important to understand what HS is not:
- It is not contagious
- It is not caused by a lack of hygiene
- It is not a typical infection
HS can affect anyone, but certain factors make it more common. Women experience HS more often than men. The condition also appears more frequently in some racial and ethnic groups. HS usually begins after puberty, often in the late teens or early adulthood, but it can also develop for the first time later in life.
If you are living with HS, you are not alone. Many patients manage their symptoms successfully with the right dermatologic care, and early treatment can greatly reduce pain, flares, and long-term scarring.
Frequently Asked Questions
HS develops when inflammation affects the hair follicles in certain areas of the body. The exact reason this happens isn’t fully understood, but genetics, hormones, friction, smoking, and weight can play a role. It is not caused by poor hygiene or anything the patient has done wrong.
No. HS cannot be passed from person to person. It is an inflammatory condition, not an infection.
HS commonly affects areas where skin rubs together or where sweat glands are more concentrated, such as the underarms, groin, buttocks, inner thighs, under the breasts, and lower abdomen.
Diagnosis is made during a clinical evaluation. A dermatologist looks for patterns of recurrent painful bumps, abscesses, or tunnels in typical locations. There is no specific blood test or scan needed to confirm HS.
