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Having even one chronic illness is difficult, much alone several. But that is exactly what many hidradenitis suppurativa sufferers encounter. Learn about the most common HS-related conditions.

Anyone suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) realises how challenging the disease is, both physically and mentally. When you add another chronic condition to the mix, it can feel impossible to manage your symptoms while still caring for your overall health. And this is exactly what many HS patients have to deal with because HS is commonly accompanied by other physical and mental health conditions known as comorbidities. Furthermore, according to recent research published in Dermatology and Therapy, the burden of comorbidities increases considerably as HS progresses from mild to more severe kinds.

It’s frightening news, but knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health and receiving the best possible care. Which medical conditions are usually related with HS? There are five types:

• Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and obesity are all cardiovascular and related illnesses.
• Crohn’s disease, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of inflammatory disorders.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid disorders are examples of hormonal illnesses.
• Psoriasis, acne, dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (a rare condition characterised by pus-filled lesions), pilonidal cysts (which occur at the tailbone and involve hair and skin debris), and pyoderma gangrenosum (which causes painful ulcers on the skin) are all examples of skin diseases.
• Depression, anxiety, poor sexual health, and social isolation are all examples of psychological diseases.

Depending on the diagnosis or condition, these comorbidities are two to twelve times more frequent in adults with HS than in their HS-free contemporaries, according to study. Notably, pilonidal cysts are 35 times more common in HS patients than in the general population.

Why Do HS Patients Have So Many Comorbidities?

Some of the connections between situations are intuitive. Because HS is a follicular occlusion disorder, which means it involves inflammation of the skin’s hair follicles, acne and pilonidal cysts are common. These, too, occur when blockages form in various parts of the skin. Similarly, because HS can be so painful, incapacitating, and humiliating, psychological side effects such as worry and melancholy are allowed. It’s challenging.

However, the cardiovascular and hormonal comorbidities are more baffling. “Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease that goes beyond the skin—there’s systemic inflammation as well,” explains Dr. Adil, Lead Ayurveda Skin Specialist at EliteAyurveda. “Inflammation is a driver for some of these other conditions.” This is particularly true for cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

HS also appears to have a hormonal component. “The hair follicle is very sensitive to the sex hormone androgen,” Dr. Adil explains. (Androgen production occurs throughout puberty and is the hormone responsible for genital and underarm hair development.) Women with PCOS, a condition characterised by multiple ovarian cysts and dysfunction, have higher-than-normal testosterone levels.

Monthly hormonal fluctuations could possibly be at work. “A lot of my patients say their HS flares up with their periods,” Dr. Adil notes. (Numerous studies have looked into the precise role of androgens and oestrogen in HS, but the results have been mixed.)

To make matters worse, persons with HS are not unusual to have more than one comorbid condition. A woman with HS, for example, may also have PCOS and metabolic syndrome, which is characterised by high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, low HDL (the “good”) cholesterol, high triglycerides, and extra belly fat. These disorders frequently overlap and raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. A woman with HS may also have arthritis and depression, whereas a man with HS may also have hypertension and inflammatory bowel disease.

According to Dr. Adil, while HS is more common in women, some linked disorders such as acne, type 2 diabetes, and Crohn’s disease are more common in males with HS. Indeed, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that while the overall incidence of type 2 diabetes was 24.8% among patients with HS compared to 15.6% among patients without HS, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes was somewhat higher (28.2%) among men with HS.

HS: Looking After Everyone

“It’s important to recognise that skin inflammation symptoms, such as those associated with HS, are what bring people into the doctor’s office, but that other inflammatory conditions may be present in the background,” adds Dr. Adil.

Co-occurring illnesses must, of course, be recognised and treated as soon as possible, before they create irreversible harm or repercussions. “With some of these comorbidities, we have medicines that can treat all of the conditions by looking at the root cause of the conditions,” explains Dr. Adil.

If you have HS, you know how difficult it can be to get a proper diagnosis for this frequently misdiagnosed skin condition. So, when you do find a dermatologist that understands HS, make sure to ask for screening for these common HS comorbidities. You can work together to develop a treatment plan, which may include assembling a team of other specialists to help you manage your physical and mental health.

At EliteAyurveda, a multispecialty clinic, we have a full panel of Ayurveda specialists who specialise and have knowledge in numerous autoimmune, cardiac, neurological, and other conditions. Contact us to learn more.

Our Prognosis –

Hydradenitis suppurativa is a cause of Kapha and Pitta dosha, according to Ayurveda. When the digestive fire (Agni), or Pitta, is out of equilibrium, the Kapha Dosha becomes vitiated, causing metabolism to slow down. Because of the disturbance of fat molecules, they begin to accumulate in muscles and obstruct physiological passages, resulting in painful, swelling sores in the groyne, buttocks, thighs, and armpits.

The goal of hidradenitis suppurativa Treatment in Ayurveda is to restore the body’s natural balance by detoxifying it using effective herbal remedies. 

Elite Ayurveda’s treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa includes balancing the Kapha and Pitta doshas as well as restoring metabolism harmony. Body detoxification, internal medications to balance doshas, and exterior applications to repair wounds are all part of the treatment.

The treatment consists of herbal mixtures generated based on individual Prakruti and Vikruti analyses. To learn more, please visit our website.

Connect with us to obtain patient testimonials and to chat directly with our patients about their experience in having their ailment treated by us and Ayurveda in general.

Dr. Adil Moulanchikkal, Lead Ayurveda Specialist at EliteAyurveda Clinics, reviewed the medical records. With over 15 years of experience in Neurological, Skin, and Autoimmune Disease treatment.

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