Hidradenitis Suppurativa - Causes

Causes

As this disease is poorly studied, the cause of Hidradenitis suppurativa remains unknown and experts disagree over proposed causes.

Hidradenitis suppurativa occurs when apocrine glands become plugged. Lesions occur in areas of the body with numerous apocrine glands such as the axilla, groin, and perianal region. This theory includes most of the following potentials indicators:

• Post-pubescent individuals are more likely to exhibit HS.
• Females are more likely to suffer from HS than males.
• Genetic predisposition among families of Sephardic Jewish, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Northern African and Native American ancestry.
• Research is assessing possible relations with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and squamous cell carcinoma.
• Plugged apocrine (sweat) gland or hair follicle.
• Excessive sweating.
• Bacterial infection.
• Sometimes linked with other auto-immune conditions.
• Androgen dysfunction.
• Genetic disorders that alter cell structure.
• Being overweight makes it worse, however this condition is not caused by obesity and weight loss will improve but not cure it. Patients with more advanced cases may find exercise intolerably painful, which may increase the rate of obesity among sufferers.

The historical understanding of the disease is that there are dysfunctional apocrine glands or dysfunctional hair follicles, possibly triggered by a blocked gland, creating inflammation, pain, and a swollen lesion. More recent studies imply there is an autoimmune component.