Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS): What You Need to Know What is hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)? ! A chronic, painful, inflammatory disease that affects the skin typically located around the armpits and groin as well as under the breasts, on the buttocks and in the inner thighs, where skin rubs together. These inflamed areas often include lesions, nodules, boils and abscesses, which can rupture, leaking foul?smelling pus onto clothing. 1,2 ! HS is estimated to affect at least one percent of the general adult population. 1,2 Are there certain factors that increase risk of HS? Employer’s Guide to Understanding HS and Its Impact DO YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WITH HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA (HS)? HS commonly occurs in young adults in their early 20s, but can occur at any age. 2 Women are more likely to develop HS than men. 2 Sex hormones likely play a role because the disease occurs after puberty. 3 The odds of having HS are greater in current smokers than in non-smokers or ex-smokers. 1,2,3 Research has established a link between HS and obesity. 1,2,3 1626481 How did your employee get HS? The exact cause of HS is unknown, but it is believed that plugged hair follicles (where hair grows out of the skin) play a role. 2,3 It is important for you to know that your employee did not develop HS from an infection or as a result of poor hygiene, a common misconception about the onset of HS. 1 Do you need to be worried about the spread of HS to other employees? HS is not infectious or contagious, so your employee cannot “give” others in the workplace HS through contact. 1,2,3
What is hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)? ! A!chronic,!painful,!inflammatory!disease!that!affects!the!skin!typically!located!around!the!armpits!and!groin!as!well!as!under!the!breasts,!on!the!buttocks!and!in!the!inner!thighs,!where!skin!rubs!together.!These!inflamed!areas!often!include!lesions,!nodules,!boils!and!abscesses,!which!can!rupture,!leaking!foul?smelling!pus!onto!clothing.1,2!
Are there certain factors that increase risk of HS?!
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Employer’s Guide to Understanding HS and Its Impact
DO YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WITH HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA!(HS)?!!
HS commonly occurs in young adults in their early 20s,
but can occur at any age.2
Women are more likely to develop HS
than men.2
Sex hormones likely play a role because the disease occurs
after puberty.3
The odds of having HS are greater in current smokers
than in non-smokers or ex-smokers.1,2,3
!
!
Research has established a link
between HS and obesity.1,2,3
!1626481
How did your employee get HS? The!exact!cause!of!HS!is!unknown,!but!!it!is!believed!that!plugged!hair!follicles!(where!hair!grows!out!of!the!skin)!play!!a!role.2,3!It!is!important!for!you!to!know!that!your!employee!did!not!develop!HS!from!an!infection!or!as!a!result!of!poor!hygiene,!a!common!misconception!about!the!onset!of!HS.1!
Do you need to be worried about the spread of HS to other employees? HS!is!not!infectious!or!contagious,!so!your!employee!cannot!“give”!others!in!the!workplace!HS!through!contact.1,2,3!!
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REFERENCES 1. Dufour DN, Emtestam L, Jemec GB. Hidradenitis suppurativa: a common and
burdensome, yet under-recognised, inflammatory skin disease. Postgrad Med J. 2014; 90 (1062):216-21.
2. Jemec G. Hidradenitis Suppurativa. N Engl J Med. 2012; 366:158-64. 3. Zouboulis CC, Tsatsou F (2012) Disorders of the Apocrine Sweat Glands. In:
Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffell DJ, Wolff K (eds) Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed, McGraw Hill, New York Chicago, pp 947-959.
4. Mayo Health Clinic. Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hidradenitis-suppurativa/DS00818. Published April 9, 2013. Accessed September 10, 2013!
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How does HS impact your employee’s ability to work and be productive? ! HS!has!varied!impact!on!people’s!ability!to!work.!Due!to!the!painful!and!progressive!nature!of!the!disease,!some!people!with!HS!may!need!to!stop!working!while!others!may!be!able!to!continue!working.1!
How can you help your employee manage HS while working? ! People!with!HS!may!require!certain!accommodations!such!as!time!off!for!dermatologist!visits!or!when!HS!flares!occur,!which!are!accompanied!by!increased!pain.1,2!Flexibility!and!understanding!can!assist!your!employee.!
To learn more, visit HS Online – www.hsonline.ca – a unique resource to help educate, uplift and empower the HS community with trusted information and support. !
