Evaluating Factors Impacting Hidradenitis Suppurativa Disease Severity in Patients With Darker Skin Types

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating chronic skin disease that has a considerable psychosocial impact on patient quality of life. Despite HS disproportionately affecting individuals with darker skin types, most published HS research features patient cohorts predominantly consisting of White patients. In this retrospective chart review, we aimed to evaluate demographics, comorbidities, and pharmacologic treatments in a predominantly Black patient population that underwent surgical treatment for HS during the period from April 2014 to April 2023 at a regional verified burn center. Our results suggest that Black patients with HS may be impacted by anxiety, depression, and comorbid gastrointestinal disease at higher rates than White patients with HS. Also, the low rates of cigarette smoking yet high rates of marijuana use in our patient population suggest a multifactorial disease pathology, warranting further research. Studies investigating disease pathophysiology, risk factors, and outcomes in HS patients with skin of color (SOC) are imperative to minimizing health care disparity gaps, improving disease outcomes, and providing more equitable health care for all patients.