Medical and Surgical Approaches in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

In her session, “Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Novel Medical and Surgical Approaches,” Dr Alexandra Charrow illuminated novel approaches to managing hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) presented at Spring Dermatology Week 2024.

Alexandra Charrow, MD, MBE, is the director of the HS clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Her session aimed to empower clinicians with tools for comprehensive HS management, focusing on lifestyle modifications, medical therapies, surgical interventions, and strategies to address treatment failure.

Dr Charrow emphasized the importance of lifestyle modifications in preventing HS flares, including smoking cessation, appropriate contraception choices, and meticulous skin care practices. She underscored the impact of weight loss on disease severity and highlighted the role of specific dietary modifications in improving outcomes.

Through illustrative case studies, Dr Charrow navigated through the complexities of medical therapy selection, considering patient preferences, disease severity, and comorbidities. She discussed the efficacy of various medications, including zinc gluconate, doxycycline, spironolactone, and finasteride, in managing different stages of HS.

In cases of treatment failure, Dr Charrow emphasized the significance of therapeutic drug monitoring, providing a scientific approach to understanding biologic inefficacy and drug clearance issues. She emphasized the importance of personalized treatment plans based on individual patient responses and antibody profiles.

Furthermore, Dr Charrow delved into the nuances of surgical management, particularly the technique of deroofing, highlighting its effectiveness in reducing recurrence rates and minimizing complications. She shared valuable tips for optimizing surgical outcomes, from pre-operative anesthesia protocols to post-operative wound care strategies.

In conclusion, Dr Charrow's session offered a comprehensive roadmap for clinicians navigating the intricate landscape of HS management.

For more meeting coverage, visit the Spring Dermatology Week 2024 newsroom.

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Reference
Charrow A. Hidradenitis suppurativa: novel medical and surgical approaches. Presented at: Dermatology Week; May 8–11, 2024; Virtual.