Evaluating social and medical comorbidities in hidradenitis suppurativa patients in the context of racial disparities

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting an estimated 0.5% to 4% of people worldwide. It is characterized by nodules, abscesses, and in more severe cases, fistulae, which occur most commonly on intertriginous skin. Patients experience pain, stigma, and a lower quality of life due to these lesions. Patients often also must navigate delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and many possible comorbidities. HS medications and treatments often cause a financial burden for patients, often propagated by racial disparities, with HS more likely to impact those with skin of color (SOC). SOC patients face increased difficulty accessing specialized care, have more severe symptoms, are underrepresented in clinical trials, and have an increased rate of delayed diagnosis. Efforts should be made to address these disparities, including ensuring diverse and representative populations for clinical trials, updating medical education to better teach treatment of SOC patients, and expanding public awareness of HS. This review aims to identify burdens and barriers faced by patients with HS, with specific consideration for SOC patients, as well as propose potential solutions.