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.
Conclusion: Some HS patients have specific lesions of the face and back which are not acne and have to be treated differently.
Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.