what is hs

HS stands for Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which is a chronic skin disease that causes painful lumps deep in the skin. It usually starts after puberty, usually in the teens or twenties, and is more common in women, people who are Black, people with a family history of HS, people who are overweight or have obesity, and people who smoke. The exact cause of HS is unknown, but it is thought to develop when hair follicles become blocked. There is no cure for HS, but treatment can control the disease and prevent new HS from forming. Dermatologists are the doctors who usually diagnose and treat HS, and they can create a treatment plan tailored to the patients needs.