The Hidradenitis Suppurativa Coalition (HSC) unites leading research and policy initiatives to drive awareness, address disparities, and improve outcomes for those affected by HS. Through our efforts, we strive to increase understanding, enhance care, and expand research funding to combat the physical and mental impacts of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Join the Coalition

Bringing people together

We collaborate with experts, healthcare professionals, advocacy leaders, and those with lived experience to promote positive policy changes in the U.S. healthcare system.

Addressing disparities

HS carries a greater disease burden for marginalized populations, so we seek to ensure timely access to care and diagnosis to reduce treatment disparities for everyone living with HS.1,2

Research and policy

We emphatically believe that better policies and improved research can transform lives in the HS community, and we are committed to driving meaningful policy changes.

3.3m

People in the US are living with HS1

21y

MEAN AGE OF HS ONSET3

5 domains
of suffering

People with HS often endure a combination of 5 domains of suffering: pain, drainage, odor, itching, and serious impacts on mental well-being, contributing to a significant and often invisible burden of disease.3

25%

OF PATIENTS ARE DIAGNOSED BEFORE AGE 255

What is HS?

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating skin condition that produces boil-like abscesses in approximately 1 in 100 individuals in the United States.1 The true prevalence of HS is still under investigation. 

HS presents as painful nodules or boil-like abscesses. HS can present anywhere a hair follicle is present and may grow to be the size of an orange or larger. These affected areas may rupture, causing deep-seated lesions that release an odorous pus-filled or bloody drainage from the body. HS most commonly presents under the armpits, in the groin, buttocks, breasts, and thighs.2 

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References

  1. Nguyen TV, Damiani G, Orenstein LAV, Hamzavi I, Jemec GB. Hidradenitis suppurativa: an update on epidemiology, phenotypes, diagnosis, pathogenesis, comorbidities and quality of life. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(1):50-61.
  2. Ballard K, Shuman VL. Hidradenitis suppurativa. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. January 2023. Last updated April 17, 2023. Accessed January 2, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534867/
  3. Naik HB, Paul M, Cohen SR, Alavi A, Suàrez-Fariñas M, Lowes MA. Distribution of self-reported hidradenitis suppurativa age at onset. JAMA Dermatol. 2019;155(8):971-973.
  4. Snyder CL, Chen SX, Porter ML. Obstacles to early diagnosis and treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa: current perspectives on improving clinical management. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:1833-1841.
  5. Analysis of data extracted from Real Chemistry's IPM.ai multi-payer real-world claims dataset (IPM.ai. Integrate Claims (https://www.ipm.ai/). Includes patients with a code for HS (ICD10: L73.2, ICD9: 705.83) included on ≥2 claims, and at least one claim from December 2021‐December 2022.