Unconventional therapies for hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and debilitating skin disease, which usually occurs after puberty with painful, deep-seated, inflammatory lesions in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the body. Several pharmacologic agents have been described to reduce lesion activity and inflammation in HS. However, conventional treatment may not always get the desired results. Therefore, unconventional therapies must be taken into account. Areas covered: Recently, the better understanding of HS pathogenesis has been used to improve treatment strategies with many emerging conventional and unconventional therapeutics options. Adalimumab is the only FDA-approved biologic available for therapy of moderate-to-severe HS. Nevertheless, novel therapeutic approach, including both topical and systemic as well as novel laser device, showed good clinical outcome. Several molecules, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-17, IL-12, IL-23, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), and complement component 5a (C5a), are modulated by such new biologic agents in HS. Expert commentary: In the next years, many therapeutic options for HS will be available. Clinical trials showed the efficacy of several biologic drugs, antibiotics, laser light device. Novel therapeutic options seem to be promising, but dermatologists will have to evaluate their effectiveness and safety in daily clinical practice.