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Skin lesions are not all the same. Expert dermatologists explain how to rule out (or maybe rule in) Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Any type of protrusion on your skin might be concerning—and at times perplexing—because a variety of skin conditions can cause raised lesions. Some are bloated and red. Others may have skin discoloration, scaliness, or itching. They may or may not have a head or a smooth surface. Do you think you have hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)? This skin disease is characterised by painful, pus-filled boils that can rupture and form under-the-skin tunnels. Bring any bumps to your doctor’s attention, but in the meantime, our experts can assist you in determining whether or not yours is HS-related.

What Exactly Are HS Bumps and Lumps?

Let’s talk about what is HS before we get into what isn’t. “For the most part, an HS bump is a skin-colored nodule in a hairy area, such as the armpits or groyne,” says Dr. Adil Moulanchikkal, Lead Ayurveda Specialist at EliteAyurveda Clinics. Lesions usually start as a hard lump that goes away in one to two weeks, but they can also become larger and fill with pus as they form an abscess. Abscesses may then erupt spontaneously, gushing blood or pus and demanding drainage. In some cases, they can leave a scar.

Is there any symmetry?

Symmetry is prevalent with HS, according to Dr. Adil. “More often than not, patients have involvement on both sides of the body,” he says. Recurrences of HS are also probable, he claims. “It’s a chronic disease, so it comes and goes.” For example, many women will experience a flare around their menstrual cycle. Dr. Adil describes the final stages of HS as “openings in the skin with a roof-like scar between openings,” when sinus tracts (pus-filled tunnels under the skin) form.

Is there a chance you have Folliculitis?

“Folliculitis is a [pustule] involving a hair follicle,” Dr. Adil explains. HS creates larger nodules and abscesses in skin folds as opposed to smaller and more widespread pustules across the body. Both eventually damage hair follicles, while HS seldom affects the body outside of skin folds. Folliculitis is typically linked with a mild infection that resolves with medicine, whereas HS is seldom associated with infection and may remain after antibiotic treatment.

What Should You Do If You Have an Epidermoid Cyst?

Unlike an HS lesion, this small bulge beneath the skin rarely produces pain until it ruptures, which is highly common. Another significant difference between an epidermoid cyst and an HS bump? “HS bumps typically lack a punctum or pore, whereas epidermoid cysts frequently do,” Dr. Adil explains. These skin cysts commonly form on the face and neck, but they can also appear on the genitals, where HS bumps are widespread.

Is it possible that you have Cutaneous Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel illness, can cause ulcers and abscesses around the anus, according to Dr. Adil. Purplish-red, ulcer-like lesions can arise in high-friction locations such as the genitals, which are also a real HS hot zone, in cutaneous Crohn’s disease, also known as metastatic Crohn’s disease (a bowel ailment that creates plaque-like patches on the arms, legs, and torso). “It’s rare, but it can happen—and it certainly looks like HS,” Dr. Adil says.

Lipomas should never be painful, right?

These fatty tissue growths that cause lumps under the skin, according to Dr. Adil, can mimic HS bumps. Lipomas, on the other hand, may feel soft and rubbery and grow slowly, whereas HS bumps grow quickly. Furthermore, HS lesions can be highly painful and necessitate the use of antibiotics or steroids to recover, whereas lipomas are typically benign and do not require any treatment at all. “They’re not as tender as HS bumps, and they don’t go away,” explains Dr. Adil. “If you have a lipoma, you’ve probably had it for a while.”

Is this a case of cystic acne?

Some people still call HS acne inversa. Acne and HS bumps are both caused by inflammation and maybe bacteria that live in hair follicles. Furthermore, HS lumps might resemble blackheads in the early stages, and cystic acne can sometimes resemble larger HS pimples. Both disorders can cause inflammatory lesions, but HS lumps tend to reoccur in the same spot and can rupture and drain into the skin, leaving pus-filled tunnels and scars. Finally, the misery of HS is far worse than the agony of acne. At times, it can be crippling.

What Is the Difference Between a Regular Boil and an HS Boil?

According to experts, “boil” is a non-medical term for a skin abscess that can be connected with an infection or HS. Both HS and boils involve hair follicles. Furuncles are abscesses that form around hair follicles and are frequently caused by infection (the most prevalent culprit being staph), yet an in-grown hair can also induce a non-infectious furuncle. Only a visual examination of a single lesion can help distinguish an HS abscess from an infected abscess. Only when the lesion appears frequently in characteristic skin folds over time, rather than vanishing after a brief course of antibiotics, will it be clear that HS is to fault.

Is it feasible that swollen lymph nodes are the source of the problem?

“Often, patients will say they have a bump under their armpit, and it turns out to be a swollen lymph node,” Dr. Adil adds. Unlike HS, lymph nodes are not red and pus-filled, but they can be unpleasant to touch. “They’re often rubbery and can move around,” he explains. To make matters worse, HS can cause swollen lymph nodes, however research suggests that this is more common in late-stage HS. If any of the symptoms listed above sound familiar, see your dermatologist to find out what’s happening. Whatever the diagnosis, getting it right can set you on the road to better health.

Our Prognosis –

EliteAyurveda Clinics has a panel of doctors in many medical disciplines such as endocrine, autoimmune, gynaecology, and so on under one roof. We are well-known for treating chronic and difficult-to-treat illnesses with a holistic and root-cause approach.

To learn more, please contact us.

Hydradenitis suppurativa is a cause of Kapha and Pitta dosha, according to Ayurveda. When the digestive fire (Agni), or Pitta, is out of equilibrium, the Kapha Dosha becomes vitiated, causing metabolism to slow down. Because of the disturbance of fat molecules, they begin to accumulate in muscles and obstruct physiological passages, resulting in painful, swelling sores in the groyne, buttocks, thighs, and armpits.

The goal of hidradenitis suppurativa Treatment in Ayurveda is to restore the body’s natural balance by detoxifying it using effective herbal remedies. 

Elite Ayurveda’s treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa includes balancing the Kapha and Pitta doshas as well as restoring metabolism harmony. Body detoxification, internal medications to balance doshas, and exterior applications to repair wounds are all part of the treatment.

The treatment consists of herbal mixtures generated based on individual Prakruti and Vikruti analyses. To learn more, please visit our website.

Connect with us to obtain patient testimonials and to chat directly with our patients about their experience in having their ailment treated by us and Ayurveda in general.

Dr. Adil Moulanchikkal, Lead Ayurveda Specialist at EliteAyurveda Clinics, reviewed the medical records. With over 15 years of experience in Neurological, Skin, and Autoimmune Disease treatment.

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