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Conflicts of interest: none declared.

Dear Editor, Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory and relapsing skin disease, characterized by repeated outbreaks of painful inflamed nodules in the apocrine gland‐bearing regions (armpits, genital area, groin, breasts and perianal region). These nodules can progress to abscesses, sinus tracts (tunnels) and scarring.1 The estimated prevalence is 1–4% worldwide and HS is approximately three times more common in women than in men.1

HS is associated with significant disability and handicap. The lesions are often painful and lead to loss of mobility. Clothing can often hide the clinical signs of the disease, but the active condition is not infrequently associated with a malodorous discharge that stains clothing, and HS is therefore often accompanied by embarrassment, disabling social stigma, low self‐worth and impacts interpersonal relationships, education and work.2  3 Overall, HS has a substantial negative effect on the quality of life (QoL) of the affected persons.

Issue Section:
Correspondence > Research Letters
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