* post-pubescent individuals are more likely to exhibit HS
* females are more likely than males
* Possible genetic predisposition among families of Sephardic Jewish, Italian, French, Dutch, Greek, Middle Eastern and Northern African 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
* stress can bring on outbreaks
* 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 is a 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.
HS is not caused by any bacterial elements.
Triggering Factors
There are a number of triggering factors that should be taken into consideration, as it is advisable to avoid such triggers.* Obesity is an exacerbating rather than a triggering factor, through mechanical irritation, occlusion, and maceration.
* Tight clothing, and clothing made of heavy, non-breathable materials.
* Smoking tobacco products.
* Deodorants, depilation products, shaving of the affected area - their association with Hidradenitis suppurativa is still an ongoing debate amongst researchers.
* Drugs, in particular oral contraceptives (i.e. oral hormonal birth control; "the pill") and lithium.
Predisposing Factors
* Genetic factors: an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern has been postulated.* Endocrine factors: sex hormones, principally an excess of androgens, are thought to be involved, although the apocrine glands are not sensitive to these hormones. Women often have outbreaks before menstruation and post-pregnancy, and the disease usually remits during pregnancy and after menopause.
Adapted from the Wikipedia article Hidradenitis suppurativa, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
