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It's important to diagnose and treat hidradenitis suppurativa as soon as possible. This can help prevent scarring and spreading of the condition. It may help lessen the physical and emotional pain caused by the condition, too.
To diagnose hidradenitis suppurativa, doctors typically look for:
Unfortunately, hidradenitis suppurativa is often misdiagnosed as boils — a different type of painful lump under the skin. Some people with hidradenitis suppurativa wait years before their condition is correctly diagnosed.
There is no cure for hidradenitis suppurativa, but once diagnosed, several treatment options exist. Treatment goals include:
Your doctor will recommend treatments based on how severe your condition is, your lifestyle and other factors. Treatments might include:
Emerging treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa also include biologic medications such as adalimumab (Humira) and infliximab (Remicade), laser therapy and advanced surgical techniques.
Depending on your lifestyle, your doctor might also recommend changes to supplement your treatment, such as:
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