Acne Inversa

From WikiGenetics

1 Name of Condition
2 Definition
3 Description, Signs and Symptoms
4 Inheritance
5 Diagnosis
6 Treatment and Management
7 Prognosis
8 Resources
9 References

[edit] Name of Condition

Acne Inversa, also known as Hidradenitis suppurativa or HS, Apocrine Acne, or Vernuil's Disease.

[edit] Definition

A skin disease that affects areas with apocrine sweat glands and hair follicles such as the groin, armpits, breasts and buttocks. The condition is marked by persistant, painful abscesses and may continue for years with occasional flare-ups.

[edit] Description, Signs and Symptoms

Acne inversa is a non-contagious and reoccurring progression of painful, deep-rooted abscesses that are extremely painful to the touch. The cluster of lesions are often inflamed and result in severe scarring. The abscesses may range in size from the size of a pea to about the size of a baseball. Symptoms include:

red, inflamed, painful bumps in the armpits, groin, or under the breasts
these bumps become pus-filled and break open

[edit] Inheritance

Because this condition has not been studied in much depth, the causes of acne inversa are not certain. A theory on inheritance is that it may be a result of a genetic predisposition within the family, involving a genetic disorder that alters cellular structure.

[edit] Diagnosis

Acne inversa often goes undiagnosed because a patient is uncomfortable with asking others about his/her condition. The condition is also very often misdiagnosed by physicians and left without proper treatment.

Potential theories on indicating acne inversa for diagnosis are:

it is more prevalent in females than males
there may be a genetic predisposition within families
bacterial infections associated with the abscesses
androgen dysfunction
stress and hormonal abnormalities
possible association with other autoimmune disorders

[edit] Treatment and Management

With no existing cure or single effective treatment, methods of managing the condition are often dependent on each patient’s unique circumstances. Some methods include diet and lifestyle changes, medications based on symptoms, and surgical procedures like drainage, radiotherapy and excision or laser surgery.