Unmet needs in hidradenitis suppurativa: patients� perspective on daily management and cosmetic cares

Abstract

SummaryHidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic debilitating inflammatory disease, affecting very sensitive areas, such as genitalia, axillae, and groins of mostly young people, with a female predilection. Signs and symptoms are devastating for patients' quality of life, joined with a history of diagnostic delay, and hidden sufferance even to close relatives. The disease has gained an increasing interest, with the proposal of new efficacious medical treatment. Besides, cosmetic skin care is somewhat uncover. To challenge patients' own perspective, the proposal of a survey to the main Italian Association, named Inversa Onlus, pointed out a free access question naire, published on the website. One hundred fifteen patients listed the major causes of daily activities limitation from a cosmetic point of view, selecting six items: affected skin appearance; scars appearance; smell; perspiration; epilation; blemish dresses. A 5 points scale expressed the level of disturbance, and the most rated features resulted: skin overall appearance, followed by scars, dirty spots on dress and problems related to depilation, while lesions smell and perspiration problems were judged less important. Asking patients unveiled that physicians should also take care of main accessory, cosmetically oriented daily needs, suggesting dedicated lines of products to improve skin appearance, and social acceptability.