A Dermatologist Reveals the Top 5 Myths About Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can be a debilitating inflammatory skin disease that is a mystery to many — except to dermatologists and perhaps those patients who’ve been treated for the condition for a long time.

“It is one of my jobs as a dermatologist to educate people about HS and put some of these myths and misconceptions to rest,” says Hirshel Kahn, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Here are five common myths about HS that dermatologists (and people who live with the condition) wish you would stop believing.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

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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