Section Summary

Section summary

  • Ask about recurrence, drainage, prior treatment, scarring, and lesions in other characteristic locations.
  • Do not wait for tunnels or extensive scarring before considering HS.
  • Use history, palpation, symptoms and morphology, not erythema alone, to recognize inflammation across skin tones.
Key takeaway: Diagnose the pattern, not just the lesion seen today. HS should be considered when deep inflammatory lesions recur in characteristic skinfolds, even if the examination appears relatively mild.