Laser and light-based treatment options for hidradenitis suppurativa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2015

Publication Title

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that commonly develops painful, deep dermal abscesses and chronic, draining sinus tracts. Classically, pharmacologic and surgical therapies have been effective for reducing lesion activity and inflammation, but provide only modest success in the prevention of future recurrences and disease progression. Adjunctive therapies, such as laser and light-based therapies, have become more commonly used in the management of HS. These therapies work to reduce the occurrence of painful HS flare-ups by decreasing the number of hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and bacteria in affected areas, and by ablatively debulking chronic lesions. The best results are seen when treatment is individualized, taking disease severity into consideration when selecting specific energy-based approaches. This article will discuss various light-based therapies and the evidence supporting their use in the management of HS.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Humans; Laser Therapy; Lasers, Gas; Low-Level Light Therapy; Male; Pain Measurement; Recurrence; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing; Young Adult

PubMed ID

26470622

Volume

73

Issue

5 Suppl 1

First Page

78

Last Page

81

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