Risk Factors Associated with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)

 

Risk factors or triggers for hidradenitis suppurativa:

(1) female gender

(2) androgenic activity, possibly as increased sensitivity

(3) family history

(4) obesity

(5) smoking

(6) drugs (lithium, sirolimus, medroxyprogesterone, other)

(7) Crohn’s disease

 

where:

• In some families HS may be inherited as an autosomal dominant condition.

• Some families have a disorder of the gamma-secretase complex (chromosome 1p21.1 to 1q25.3).

 

Factors reducing severity of HS:

(1) anti-androgenic therapy (based on anecdotal evidence)

(2) pregnancy

(3) menopause