What is Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, painful skin condition. It usually presents with blackheads, pimples, boils, abscesses, scars and tunnels in the armpits, underneath the breasts, groin, inner thighs and/or buttocks.

Our logo

The HS Living Guidelines logo symbolizes several facets of this complex disease :

Two dotted spheres : Painful lesions typical of this disease
S as an “Infinity” symbol : Care is constantly improving. Treatments are evolving.
H as a Butterfly : Hope for patients and caregivers. The metamorphosis of a disease that has come out of the shadows into the light

The colors :

Purple : Awareness and support for the patients
Blue : Strength of patients and confidence in a better future
Green-yellow : Innovation and research

Purpose

The Living Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Guidelines are a continuously updated resource designed to provide timely, evidence-based recommendations for the clinical management of HS. The possibility of such a project arose in 2023, instigated by Dr. Raed Alhusayen and members of the Canadian HS Foundation.

Developed by a team of HS experts and methodologists, these guidelines aim to address a critical gap in clinical practice: the lack of up to date, high quality guidance for a disease with rapidly evolving treatment options and growing research output.

Given the increasing number of clinical trials and newly approved therapies for HS, along with the steady publication of new data on existing treatments, clinicians are faced with the challenge of staying current in a complex and dynamic landscape. Existing HS guidelines are now several years old, with most having been published only once. This project introduces a living guideline model that can adapt in real time, ensuring clinicians have access to the most current and trustworthy recommendations to guide patient care. By using modern tools, efficient methods, and a phased publication approach, this initiative is designed to support clinical decision making, promote evidence based care, and improve outcomes for people living with HS.

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Scope

The guidelines cover the full spectrum of HS management, including diagnosis, assessment of disease severity, evaluation and management of comorbidities, and therapeutic interventions such as topical, systemic, procedural, and surgical options. To ensure timely access to the most relevant information, the guidelines will be published in sections as they are completed. This approach allows clinicians to benefit from up to date, high priority recommendations while other areas continue through evidence review and development.

All off-label recommendations are intended to be considered only after approved therapies from different classes have been used or are not suitable.

As these are international guidelines, expert panel voted based on the evidence, even if they did not have personal experience or local access to a specific therapy.

These Guidelines are targeted toward healthcare professionals, including: