Medicines for Hidradenitis suppurativa

Treatment is matched to severity. For milder disease, topical antibiotics applied to the skin and a course of oral antibiotics from the tetracycline group are commonly used, as much for their anti-inflammatory effect as for tackling infection. As the condition becomes more active, anti-inflammatory approaches and, for moderate-to-severe HS, biologic medicines that block tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF, such as adalimumab) may be started under specialist care to calm the underlying inflammation. Surgery can be considered where scarring and tunnels under the skin are established. Stopping smoking, managing weight, good pain relief and dressings all support these treatments and are an important part of care.

No — this is a common and understandable misunderstanding, but HS is not caused by being unclean. It is a long-term inflammatory condition of the skin, not a simple infection, and washing more or harder does not prevent or cure it, and scrubbing affected areas can actually make things worse. It is also not contagious. Things that do influence it include smoking and carrying excess weight, both of which can make it more active, which is why stopping smoking and weight management are genuinely helpful. Understanding that HS is an inflammatory condition rather than a hygiene problem can lift unfair self-blame and help focus on effective treatment.

Yes — both are among the most useful steps a person with HS can take. Smoking and excess weight are linked with more active disease, so stopping smoking and working towards a healthier weight can reduce how often and how badly the condition flares, and they support the benefit of medical treatment. These changes are not always easy, and they are not a substitute for the antibiotics, biologics or surgery that may be needed, but they make a real difference over time. Your GP or specialist team can offer practical help with stopping smoking and weight management as part of your overall care plan.

Referral to a dermatology specialist is encouraged sooner rather than later, because early treatment helps reduce the long-term scarring that can build up. It is particularly worth being referred if flares are frequent or hard to control, if simpler treatments such as antibiotics are not keeping the condition in check, if scarring or tunnels under the skin are developing, or if the pain and impact on daily life are significant. A specialist can offer treatments such as anti-TNF biologics and assess whether surgery to remove badly affected areas would help. Asking your GP about referral early gives the best chance of limiting lasting damage.