Skip to main content
Hidradenitis Suppurativa

How Does Hidradenitis Suppurativa Affect Black Americans?

This chronic skin condition may show up differently in Black Americans, making it hard for some dermatologists to recognize.

Marisa Taylor KarasMera Goodman, MD, FAAP
Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP
Updated on March 14, 2024
Featuring Erum Ilyas, MDReviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP | March 14, 2024

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition marked by painful, tender nodules under the skin. It affects Black Americans more often than people of other ethnicities. 

In this video, learn how HS affects Black Americans differently, and what factors may delay diagnosis, according to Erum Ilyas, MD, Dermatologist at Montgomery Dermatology in Pennsylvania.

References

Ballard, K., et al. (2023). Hidradenitis suppurativa. StatPearls.

Lofton, H., et al. (2023). Obesity among African American people in the United States: A review. Obesity: A Research Journal.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.
Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

Was this page helpful?

Latest articles