Symptoms

The symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativarange from mild to severe.

It causes a mixture of red boil -like lumps, blackheads, cysts, scarring and channels in the skin that leak pus.

The condition tends to start with a firm pea-sized lesion that develops in one place. This will either disappear or rupture andooze pus after a few hours or days.

New lumps will then often develop in an area nearby. If these aren't controlled with medication, larger lumps may develop and spread. Narrow channelscalled sinus tracts also form under the skin that break out on the surface and leak pus.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is very painful. The lumps develop on the skin in the following areas:

• around the groin and genitals
• in the armpits
• on the buttocks and around the anus (back passage)
• below the breasts

The abscesses may also spread to the nape of the neck, waistband and inner thighs. Other isolated areas that have been known to be affected include the front or back of the legs, the sides, the back area and even the face.

Some of the lumps may become infected with bacteria, causing a secondary infection that will need to be treated with antibiotics (see below).

Many people with hidradenitis suppurativaalso develop a pilonidal sinus , which isa small hole or "tunnel" in the skin.