3 Signs Your Acne Is Actually Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)

Pimples and cysts plague most people at some point in their lives, so it’s easy to shrug off your bumpy skin as acne. However, if you’re faced with severe skin problems that seem like more than a stubborn zit, you may not realize that what you might think is a just bad case of garden-variety acne (acne vulgaris) is actually a less well-known form called hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa).

“Hidradenitis suppurativa is an inflammatory condition that sometimes may resemble acne,” says Hirshel Kahn, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital. “They are both conditions of hair follicles getting clogged up by cells and [oil] which comes off the surface of the skin.” Your dermotologist may prescribe antibiotics, steroid shots, or biologic drugs for severe cases of HS, according to Dr. Kahn. Treatment for HS should start as early as possible to prevent it from worsening, leaving permanent scars, and hurting quality of life.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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