Why this skin condition is wrong for others – and which ones.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a skin condition that is often mistaken for a group of suspects. In particular, people confuse HS for some more common conditions.
Skin conditions can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, with the appearance of spots, rashes, breakouts or scales. This is because they often have common symptoms or symptoms that match or mimic other skin problems.
So what exactly is HS? It’s a chronic, progressive skin condition that typically appears as boil-like patches in areas prone to friction and sweat, where your skin may be sensitive. These lumps can form interconnected threads (aka “tunneling”) under your skin that can become irritated or even infected.
Knowing how the symptoms of HS compare to those of other inflammatory skin conditions can help you make the right diagnosis and care. important to prevent disease development.
Here are 7 terms that HS are commonly confused with.
HS is not low – it affects up to 4% of the population. But in comparison, acne vulgaris is more affected more than 9% people all over the world. Sometimes HS can be mistaken for acne because acne is more common. But these two conditions are completely different.
Acne usually presents as papules, pustules or noduleswhich is usually called zits or blemishes. Acne often appears on your face, but it can also affect your back, chest, arms, and buttocks. It occurs when your sebaceous glands are hypersensitive to circulating androgens (such as testosterone).
In comparison, HS is often found in areas prone to sweat and friction, such as your armpits or groin. It happens when hair follicles become blocked – although more research is needed to understand what causes this blockage.
Acne conglobata (AC) is a rare but severe form of nodulocystic acne. With AC, cysts and nodules stick together under your skin, which can lead to infections and scarring. Because AC has a “tunneling” effect that can appear similar to HS, many people confuse these two otherwise distinct conditions.
One major difference? HS often occurs in areas exposed to skin-to-skin contact or adhesions. On the other hand, AC can appear anywhere on your body. To make things even more complicated, many people with HS also have AC, as some studies suggest relationship between two conditions.
An ingrown hair happens when a strand of hair grows somewhere on your body instead of out into your skin. Ingrown hairs usually appear after shaving, waxing or tweezing. After shaving, the tiny new hair can curl inward and form a bump (often called a stubble).
Sometimes people confuse HS bumps for ingrown hairs – especially since HS often occurs in places where hair is commonly picked up, such as the armpits and bikini area. Another complicating factor is that HS develops from blocked follicles. However, the cause of blockage in HS is more complex than ingrown hairs.
Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicles, usually caused by a bacterial infection. Inflamed hair follicles appear as small bumps and can look like ingrown hairs.
People often mistake HS for folliculitis because the conditions often occur in the same areas of the skin.
Mild folliculitis will go away on its own with home treatment, although more severe forms may require antibiotics. HS, on the other hand, is a chronic condition.
Boil (also called boil) a full of dirt. Acne is caused by a bacterial infection, often from a hair follicle. The infection causes the immune cells and the skin to overgrow, which causes the rash to form. A carbuncle is a cluster of boils.
People often confuse HS with boils. However, boils are the result of infection and proper treatment usually resolves the issue. Meanwhile, boil-like boils often require ongoing treatment.
