In those with more severe disease, laser therapy or surgery to remove the affected skin may be viable. Rarely, a skin lesion may develop into skin cancer.If mild cases of HS are included, then the estimate of its frequency is from 1–4% of the population. Women are three times more likely to be diagnosed with it than men. Onset is typically in young adulthood and may become less common after 50 years old. It was first described between 1833 and 1839 by French anatomist Alfred Velpeau. Causes
The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa remains unknown, and there has, in the recent past, been notable disagreement among experts in this regard. The condition, however, likely stems from both genetic and environmental causes. Specifically, an immune-mediated pathology has been proposed, although there have been sources that have already contradicted the probable likelihood of such an idea.Lesions will occur in any body areas with hair follicles, although areas such as the axilla, groin, and perineal region are more commonly involved. This theory includes most of these potential indicators:
Post-pubescent individuals
Blocked hair follicles or blocked apocrine sweat glands
Excessive sweating
Androgen dysfunction
Genetic disorders that alter cell structure
Patients with more advanced cases may find exercise intolerably painful, which may increase their rate of obesity.The historical understanding of the disease suggests dysfunctional apocrine glands or dysfunctional hair follicles, possibly triggered by a blocked gland, which creates inflammation, pain, and a swollen lesion. Triggering factors
Several triggering factors should be taken into consideration:

Obesity is an exacerbating rather than a triggering factor, through mechanical irritation, occlusion, and skin maceration.
Apocrine acne – an outdated term based on the disproven concept that apocrine glands are primarily involved, though many do have apocrine gland infection
Apocrinitis – another outdated term based on the same thesis
Fox-den disease – a term not used in medical literature, based on the deep fox den–like sinuses
Hidradenitis supportiva – a misspelling
Pyodermia fistulans significa – now considered archaic
Verneuils disease – recognizing the surgeon whose name is most often associated with the disorder as a result of his 1854–1865 studies

Histology
Terminology
Although hidradenitis suppurativa is often referred to as acne inversa, it is not a form of acne, and lacks the core defining features of acne such as the presence of closed comedones and increased sebum production. References
External links
Medline: What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa? Hidradenitis Suppurativa (2004) Prof J. Revuz Archived 28 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine