In people with hidradenitis suppurativa, pus-filled bumps on the skin or hard bumps beneath the skin can progress to painful, inflamed areas (also called “lesions”) with chronic drainage. In severe cases, the lesions can become large and connected by narrow tunnel-like structures beneath the skin. In some cases, HS lees open wounds that won’t heal. HS can cause significant scarring.
HS tends to occur where two areas of skin may touch or rub together, most commonly the armpits and the groin. Lesions may also form around the anus, on the buttocks or upper thighs, or under the breasts. Other less frequently involved areas may include behind the ear, the nape of the neck, the areola of the breast, the scalp, and the area around the nel.
Some people with relatively mild disease may he just one affected area, while others he more extensive disease with lesions in multiple sites. Skin problems from HS are usually symmetrical, meaning if an area on one side of the body is affected, the corresponding area on the opposite side is often affected as well.