Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin condition which causes painful lesions and is found in areas of the body which are hard to dress and manage such as the axilla, breast, and groin. HS has been shown to significantly impact patients’ quality of life, and it is estimated that 1-4% of the population suffer from the condition. Patients can wait 7-10 years for diagnosis as the condition is often underrecognized, misdiagnosed or patients do not come forward in a timely manner. Patients often resort to inappropriate self-management and suffer from depression and anxiety.
In this session we will cover the cause, the impact HS has on the patient, diagnosis, and staging of HS. The session will also discuss the recent consensus on HS and the importance of appropriate wound management to imrpove patients' quality of life.