Back and face involvement in hidradenitis suppurativa.
BACKGROUND
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) may be associated with face and back lesions which are considered as acne.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the skin lesions of a group of patients with HS.


METHODS
Twelve patients were selected from a series of 648 patients on the basis of their specific skin lesions.


RESULTS
The patients (mostly male) had typical hidradenitis. On their face or back they had one or several of the following skin lesions which are not seen in acne: hypertrophic rope-like bridged scars, raised plaques with multiple carbuncle-like openings or with ulcerations, 'worm-eaten scars' and coalescent nodules with round ulcerations. All patients had deep round scars. Several had a pilonidal cyst or large epidermal cysts. Isotretinoin had been used by 7 patients with no effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Some HS patients have specific lesions of the face and back which are not acne and have to be treated differently.
Poli
Florence
F
Departement of Dermatology, Groupe Henri-Mondor, Albert-Chenevier, AP-HP, Paris, France.
Wolkenstein
Pierre
P
Revuz
Jean
J
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001415:Back / Q000473:pathology*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010864:Pilonidal Sinus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D002981:Clindamycin; D015474:Isotretinoin; D012293:Rifampin