Certainly, there’s no single cause for Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Therefore, there’s no specific treatment to eradicate it completely. In addition, not all patients react satisfactorily to the same treatment.
However, there are certain things that you can do to lessen the effects of this disease and prevent its recurrence.
In fact, the good results of a treatment don’t always depend on how effective the medications are, but on the way, you’re dealing with the treatment. From inadequate hygiene to bad habits of life. Situations like that could make your condition worse.
Today you’ll know all the changes that you have to make in your life routine to guarantee the success of your treatment. In addition, you will learn more about Hidradenitis Suppurativa to get a clearer idea of how to treat the disease effectively.
What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa?
It is a painful disease characterized by the appearance of bumps under the skin. The areas with more sweat glands and subjected to constant friction are most vulnerable. For example:
- Buttocks
- Breasts
- Groin
- Armpit
Commonly, Hidradenitis Suppurativa appears after puberty. It’s also a recurring disease, which means that it can reappear in different moments of life.
There are people with a genetic predisposition to the disease. Therefore, they could generate bumps on the skin even leading a healthy lifestyle. However, in most cases, the most common triggers are:
Age
Between 18-29 years of age, people are more likely to suffer from the disease.
Sex
It is usually more common in women.
Obesity
Obese people tend to generate greater friction between the layers of skin when they move. This is a common cause of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Smoking
Interestingly, smokers are more likely to suffer from the disease.
Family Background
If a close relative suffers from Hidradenitis Suppurativa, the probability of suffering from the disease is greater.
Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
As stated before, there’s no specific treatment for it. Nor it is proven that one treatment is more beneficial than another. Sometimes, it is necessary to apply two or more treatments at the same time to see results.
Below, you will find a list of some common treatments for the disease that might work in your case:
- Medicaments
- Surgery
- Lifestyle changes
Basically, there are only three effective ways to treat and control the disease. However, good results aren’t always a guarantee, especially with people with genetic predisposition.
Applying cold compresses and avoiding wearing too tight clothes is also a great way to prevent pain. Obviously, these alternatives aren’t technically a treatment, but they can make the patient’s life much easier.
A Full Guidelines of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Treatment
Depending on the severity of your condition, you may require more or less invasive treatments. Next, the most usual procedures in each case.
Moderate and Severe Cases
In these cases, the patient has pus-filled tunnels under the skin. Certainly, the only alternative is surgery. Here’s a list of the most common procedures:
- Uncovering tunnel
It basically consists of removing the tissue that covers the pus tunnels.
- Laser therapy
Light from a carbon dioxide laser focuses over each lesion. Over time it tends to disappear.
- Punch debridement
Commonly applied on a single lesion. The procedure is similar to tunnel uncovering, but the amount of removed tissue is less.
- Surgical removal
It consists of removing all the tissue infected by the disease. In the most severe cases, a skin graft is necessary. It isn’t a definitive solution. Bumps may appear in adjacent places to the treated area.
- Tissue-sparing excision with electrosurgery
It combines two procedures at once: electrosurgical peeling with removal of damaged tissue. This type of treatment is only suitable in the most severe cases.
- Incision and drainage
It’s a less invasive method that involves making a cut in the skin to drain the pus from the tunnels. It doesn’t involve the removal of contaminated tissue, so it isn’t precisely a definitive solution. It is just a way to relieve the patient’s pain.
Mild Cases
In the case of mild Hidradenitis Suppurativa, it isn’t necessary to apply any kind of invasive treatment. Therefore, topical medication can be effective in preventing infection and relieving inflammation. These are the most common treatments:
- Pain relievers
- Antibiotic creams (gentamicin and clindamycin)
- Systemic drugs (clindamycin, doxycycline, rifampin, anakinra, infliximab, adalimumab)
For All Cases
It doesn’t matter if your Hidradenitis Suppurativa is mild, moderate or severe. It’s also important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and apply an adequate hygiene routine every day. Here’s a list of tips you should follow:
- Avoid overweight
As stated at the beginning, obese people are more likely to suffer from Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Therefore, you must maintain a healthy weight all the time to avoid complications.
Certainly, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine will help you achieve it. Consume in moderation foods such as red meats, dairy products, processed foods and refined sugar.
- Do not smoke
In addition to causing cancer, smoking is another trigger for it. If you want to cure yourself from the disease, you must first begin by overcoming your tobacco addiction.
- Take care of your skin
It’s advisable to follow a daily skin care routine. Wash your face in the morning and before bed with an antiseptic soap. You can also apply Cetaphil lotion to leave your skin even cleaner. You may try Hidradenitis Suppurativa soaps in your daily routine.
After cleaning the skin, you can apply antibiotic creams.
Conclusion
Maintaining a good hygiene routine can help you get better results from your current Hidradenitis Suppurativa treatment. Remember to be careful with the application of certain antibiotics, which can irritate the skin.
Try to avoid direct contact of UV rays with skin areas treated with antibiotic creams or lotions. This could cause the appearance of spots and burns. Try also to follow a healthy lifestyle and get away from the vices.
If you follow the above advices of hidradenitis suppurativa treatment guidelines, you’ll surely be free of it forever.