Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Hidradenitis suppurativa or HS Dermatology is not just about healthy and beautiful skin. It is not about aesthetics, looking younger, and have no wrinkles. Dermatology is a specialty of medical science involving skin disorders and there are plenty. Many of them are a part of, what we call, 'ugly dermatology. Psoriasis, eczema, skin cancer are not pretty. HS, which is a topic of today's reading is truly ugly. It is also difficult to deal with. Affecting both genders, it seems to be more frequent in women. It is associated often with other comorbidities, most frequently Crohn's disease and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Like many other skin disorders, it is inflammatory, present mostly but not only in the areas of rubbing skin, under arms, groin, under breast, buttocks. It is often infected, creating pea-size bumps, nodular growths, that drain watery blood and pus. During flares, those bumps are full of unpleasant odor that is almost impossible to get rid of. Hygienic intervention, even several times a day, is helpful, but not quite resolving the problem. Like many other skin diseases, it is linked to genetics and the immune system. We truly do not know why sweat glands and follicles produce the nodules that can be life changing for many patients suffering from it. High levels of pain, smell, always draining wounds, often prevent patients from intimacy, from sports, and even wearing summer clothing. And, like with many other diseases, we know much less about how to treat this difficult problem. We use antiseptic washes, broad-spectrum antibiotics, some biologics, but often, relief is not easy to find. The most ironic thing is that this problem affects mostly young people and thus, it is preventing them from having healthy lifestyle and relationships. While all of our lack of full knowledge of the disease is very frustrating, there is hope. As always in research, we are still looking for good outcomes, but we do have projects and new molecules that seem to be working better than anything from the past, and also have a good safety record. There are several newer projects in the final phase 3 development, and we are strongly hoping they will bring a turning point to our dilemma. HS is not a very frequent disorder. It is estimated that about 1% of the population suffers from it, but many patients have a mild version of it. It is those who are moderate-to-severe that suffer the most. It is also very difficult to find these patients as they often talk to their primary physician and, after hearing the news, may be often misdiagnosed or left with little help. We have spoken to some who simply just gave up. This is not the position" we encourage. We have to speak up. We have to communicate the life- changing effects of the disease and we have to search more. We wish we could reach out to the patients to invite them for a discussion in our clinic and to show them how medical science is stepping one small leap after another but getting closer to identifying the true origin and source, and then, developing the exact target medicine we need. Please, contact our research team with any questions or if you simply want to know more about HS. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Hidradenitis suppurativa or HS Dermatology is not just about healthy and beautiful skin . It is not about aesthetics , looking younger , and have no wrinkles . Dermatology is a specialty of medical science involving skin disorders and there are plenty . Many of them are a part of , what we call , ' ugly dermatology . Psoriasis , eczema , skin cancer are not pretty . HS , which is a topic of today's reading is truly ugly . It is also difficult to deal with . Affecting both genders , it seems to be more frequent in women . It is associated often with other comorbidities , most frequently Crohn's disease and polycystic ovarian syndrome . Like many other skin disorders , it is inflammatory , present mostly but not only in the areas of rubbing skin , under arms , groin , under breast , buttocks . It is often infected , creating pea - size bumps , nodular growths , that drain watery blood and pus . During flares , those bumps are full of unpleasant odor that is almost impossible to get rid of . Hygienic intervention , even several times a day , is helpful , but not quite resolving the problem . Like many other skin diseases , it is linked to genetics and the immune system . We truly do not know why sweat glands and follicles produce the nodules that can be life changing for many patients suffering from it . High levels of pain , smell , always draining wounds , often prevent patients from intimacy , from sports , and even wearing summer clothing . And , like with many other diseases , we know much less about how to treat this difficult problem . We use antiseptic washes , broad - spectrum antibiotics , some biologics , but often , relief is not easy to find . The most ironic thing is that this problem affects mostly young people and thus , it is preventing them from having healthy lifestyle and relationships . While all of our lack of full knowledge of the disease is very frustrating , there is hope . As always in research , we are still looking for good outcomes , but we do have projects and new molecules that seem to be working better than anything from the past , and also have a good safety record . There are several newer projects in the final phase 3 development , and we are strongly hoping they will bring a turning point to our dilemma . HS is not a very frequent disorder . It is estimated that about 1 % of the population suffers from it , but many patients have a mild version of it . It is those who are moderate - to - severe that suffer the most . It is also very difficult to find these patients as they often talk to their primary physician and , after hearing the news , may be often misdiagnosed or left with little help . We have spoken to some who simply just gave up . This is not the position " we encourage . We have to speak up . We have to communicate the life- changing effects of the disease and we have to search more . We wish we could reach out to the patients to invite them for a discussion in our clinic and to show them how medical science is stepping one small leap after another but getting closer to identifying the true origin and source , and then , developing the exact target medicine we need . Please , contact our research team with any questions or if you simply want to know more about HS . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net