Understanding the Link Between Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Psoriasis
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and psoriasis are two chronic inflammatory skin conditions that share some similarities and occasionally occur together. Both diseases involve the immune system attacking healthy tissues, leading to uncomfortable and disfiguring symptoms.
The Primary Features of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
HS manifests as painful bumps and boils arising in areas of the body containing apocrine sweat glands. These include the armpits, groin, anal region, and beneath the breasts. Recurrent flare-ups may drain pus and blood, producing foul odors and scarring.
Doctors do not know the exact causes of HS other than it demonstrates genetic susceptibility combined with triggers like smoking, obesity, and friction. It typically arises after puberty, affecting an estimated 1-4% of the general population to varying degrees.
Characteristics and Causes of Psoriasis
Psoriasis stems from an overactive immune response which accelerates skin cell growth. This results in raised, thick, red lesions covered by flaky, silver scales. The rashes most commonly occur across the scalp, elbows, knees, back, buttocks, and ears.
Around 25% of psoriasis cases demonstrate a hereditary link. Additional aspects like stress, skin injuries, cold weather, smoking, obesity, and other illnesses can also provoke flare-ups.
The Association Between Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Psoriasis
Medical literature indicates around 6-7% of people with HS also live with psoriasis. The reason for this coexistence relates to both conditions arising from faulty immune responses and inflammation regulation.
Genetic studies have uncovered shared susceptibility genes between HS and psoriasis. Furthermore, certain biological medications used to treat both diseases target some of the same inflammatory pathways.
Considerations for Sufferers of Dual Conditions
Dealing with one chronic skin disorder can greatly impact quality of life, let alone managing HS and psoriasis simultaneously. Some key considerations for those affected by both conditions include:
- Working with a dermatologist familiar with dual inflammatory diseases to optimize treatment
- Identifying and avoiding individual trigger factors that aggravate breakouts
- Following a healthy lifestyle and diet to support immune regulation
- Learning effective stress management techniques
- Joining support groups to help cope with the psychological aspects
Available Medications for Hidradenitis Suppurativa
HS was previously viewed as a difficult to treat condition with antibiotics being the only mainstream pharmaceutical option. However, expanding medical knowledge has led to new categories of medications providing better management of HS symptoms.
Antibiotics for Reducing Infection Risk
Antibiotics remain a common early treatment approach for HS. They help control the abundance of bacteria residing in lesions which can cause secondary infections. Tetracyclines like minocycline or doxycycline tend to be preferred.
Oral antibiotics demonstrate modest benefits in hs lesions and are often combined with other medications targeting different aspects of the disease. They may be used short-term or perpetually to limit infections.
Hormonal Therapies for HS
Since HS lesions often initially develop during puberty, hormones are thought to impact the course of the disease. Hormonal modulators like oral contraceptives, metformin, finasteride, spironolactone can provide relief for some patients.
Adjusting hormones levels helps minimize flare-ups for women in particular. However, outcomes are inconsistent and more clinical data is still needed on their effectiveness.
Biologic Injections to Block Inflammation
Injectable biologic agents represent exciting advancement in controlling HS inflammation. Biologics like adalimumab, infliximab, ustekinumab, and anakinra interrupt chemical messenger pathways which drive symptomatic flares.
In clinical studies, weekly or monthly injections meaningfully reduce abscesses, pain, and drainage for substantial subsets of HS patients. They offer hope to those unresponsive to other options when combined with lifestyle adjustments.
Available Treatments for Managing Psoriasis
Psoriasis treatment plans aim to minimize symptom flares, remove scales, reduce skin cell turnover, and temper inflammation. Mild psoriasis may respond to topical creams, while more severe cases warrant systemic medications or advanced therapies.
Moisturizers and Topical Steroids
Hydrating skin lesions while also slowing cell growth and inflammation is the premise behind topical psoriasis remedies. This includes using over-the-counter moisturizing creams and lotions mixed with prescription topical steroids like betamethasone.
When applied once or twice per day, these ointments can effectively improve mild to moderate psoriasis outbreaks. They also prove useful for managing sporadic flare-ups in conjunction with other medications.
Oral and Injectable Systemic Drugs
If psoriasis regularly covers over 10% of the body or significantly impacts quality of life, systemic medications are typically recommended. This includes oral drugs like methotrexate, cyclosporine and ache inhibitors or injectable biologics agents that suppress faulty immune responses.
These powerful medications can induce extensive clearing but have more side effects than topicals. Patients also face higher risks if combining them with medications for other conditions.
Advanced Treatment Options
A few additional therapeutic options exist for those with severe, resistant psoriasis. Light therapy applies ultraviolet radiation to lesions which slows skin cell turnover. Another emerging option is JAK inhibitors like Rinvoq and Skyrizi which interrupt inflammatory signals.
For some patients debilitated by psoriasis, these cutting-edge treatments finally provide substantial relief when other methods fail. However, convenience, costs, and long-term effects still limit their widespread use.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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