In all likelihood, the term hidradenitis suppurativa does not sound like anything to us, but if we call this skin pathology by its most common names, bartolillos or swallows, We’ll probably be in place by now.
It is a chronic, progressive inflammatory skin disease It usually debuts at puberty. As explained by , this pathology causes the recurring appearance of abscesses (large pimples) and scars in certain areas of the body:
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Armpits
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English
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perianal region
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perineal region
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mammary and submammary area
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Buttocks
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pubic region.
The reason they appear here and not elsewhere is, as explained by the Foundation’s specialists:
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“Because in these areas there is a certain type of sweat glandswhich are the apocrine glands.
Hidradenitis suppurativa greatly influences the quality of life
Although apparently it might seem like a minor illness, the truth is that hidradenitis suppurativa greatly affects physical, emotional and social well-being of the patient. And the reasons are:
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for the pain it causes
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The bad smell that abscesses can produce
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The drains that are placed to treat them
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The scars they leave.
Furthermore, dermatologists consider that It is the dermatological pathology with the greatest impact on the quality of life of those affected.comparable to , cardiovascular or some types of cancer.
Despite its great impact, the truth is that in Spain this disease is underdiagnosedand to reach the diagnosis, some patients take an average of 10.5 years.
Why does this dermatological pathology occur and how is it diagnosed?
The origin of this disease is not clear.
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It is considered that there is a alteration of the hair follicles that generate an alteration of the epithelium of the hair follicle which causes its obstruction. Secondarily, there is a concentration of bacteria in the area.
But the exact cause is not known.
The specialists from Fundación Piel Sana point to
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Hereditary factors (one of the parents suffers from it)
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Endocrine factors, specifically sexual ones.
What is known is that there is a set of triggers if one is already prone to developing these abscesses. And they are:
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The obesity
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smoking
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Wear tight clothes
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Use of oral contraceptives.
Also, although this point is not entirely clear, it points towards:
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The use of deodorants
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waxing or shaved of the areas where the painful nodules appear.
As to his diagnosisthe truth is that does not require any type of specific test. It is enough to go to a dermatology specialist who, in view of the abscesses and lesions, will be able to conclude that it is hidradenitis suppurativa.
Can hidradenitis suppurativa be treated?
There really is no single treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa. Everything will depend on the degree of the disease, its recurrence and the type of patient.
In general, treatments are usually combined, but the most common, as explained by the , are:
- Retinoids to prevent clogging of the hair follicle.
- Treatments for inflammation. Once the nodule or abscess appears, the dermatologist may prescribe corticosteroids, antibiotics or immunopressants.
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If it is proven that the hidradenitis has a hormonal origin, they can be prescribed drugs like the pill.
- Surgery. Among these procedures, used in the most serious cases, are the incisions and drainage of the nodules, or removal of the injuries.
lack of diagnosis
With the purpose of to know the profile of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and assess their state of healthhas been carried out, prepared by the Association of Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (ASENDHI), with the collaboration of Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, UCB, AbbVie and Novo Nordisk.
According to the results obtained, and based on the analysis of 424 surveys answered by patients from all over Spain between the months of May and July 2022:
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80.5% of those affected are women
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84% have between 20 and 50 years.
One of the main problems presented by this disease is its high underdiagnosis, which means that 92% of those affected suffer from it in a moderate or severe way.
This can be explained by the fact that it takes an average of 10.5 years to diagnose ita time that has hardly improved in relation to the first Barometer carried out in 2016, the year in which the average time to diagnosis was 10.9 years.
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In addition, among people diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa in the last five years, the study shows that they have had to go to more than 24 medical consultations and visit an average of three specialists in order to receive a diagnosis.
18.7% of patients with this disease surveyed ensure that they do not follow up of the disease, although those who are followed by a healthcare professional have to make an average of 5.5 visits a year, especially the most serious cases.
As for surgeries,…