Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a long-term skin disorder associated with high levels of psychological distress and significant life impact. Objective: To evaluate the quality of life, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-esteem in patients with HS. Methods: Ninety-four patients with HS were enrolled in the study. The quality of life, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-esteem of the patients were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), respectively. Results: The DLQI mean score was 11.43 ± 6.61 in patients with HS. The patients with HS presented statistically significantly higher anxiety (6.41 ± 3.31 vs. 5.00 ± 1.59, p < 0.001), depression (5.45 ± 2.79 vs. 4.16 ± 1.54, p < 0.001), and loneliness and social isolation scores (42.86 ± 8.63 vs. 35.57 ± 6.17, p < 0.001) and lower self-esteem scores (18.91 ± 1.79 vs. 19.77 ± 2.53, p = 0.008) than the healthy controls. Conclusions: HS is a distressing, recurrent disease that impairs quality of life. We can suggest services that allow an integrated approach, which includes psychosocial support, offering the patients relief from isolation and an opportunity to share common experiences.

Oral clindamycin with oral rifampicin for 12 weeks is an effective and tolerable regimen for HS.

Summary Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also referred to as acne inversa, is a debilitating skin disease characterized by inflammatory nodules, chronic abscesses and tunnels (fistulae and sinuses). The association with pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is frequently reported but not well documented. Objectives To determine the prevalence and characteristics of inflammatory skin lesions located in the intergluteal fold (IGF) of patients with HS. Methods This was an international multicentre retrospective cross‐sectional study based on data collection from a large cohort of patients with HS with and without histopathology. Results From a total of 2465 patients with HS included in the study, 661 (27%) reported lesions in the IGF. These patients were significantly more often smokers and had more severe HS. Of the 238 patients with an available clinical diagnosis, intergluteal‐HS (IG‐HS) was diagnosed in 52 patients (22%) and PSD was diagnosed in 186 patients (78%). IG‐HS was associated with the localization of HS in the proximity of the IGF, including the buttocks, genitals and the anus. There was a possibility of misclassification bias in this study as a clinical/image‐based diagnosis or histopathology of the IGF lesions was not always available. Conclusions The high prevalence of PSD suggests a strong link between both entities. Therefore, it may be useful to identify common pathophysiological mechanisms and develop common therapeutic strategies. What's already known about this topic? The occurrence of pilonidal sinus disease has not been clearly reported among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa. What does this study add? This is the first study that investigated the prevalence of pilonidal sinus disease among a large cohort of patients and identified the patient characteristics. Risk factors that might help to improve the management of patients were identified.