2025: Volume 5, Issue 4
Current Issue
Full-Text 
PDFAnalyzing Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Pediatric and Adolescent Populations
Olivia V Lim1,* Philip Zitser2, Jessica Elliott3, Selina J Chang4, Robert Adler5, Aqsa Kanwal6, Shruti Gautham7, Natalie Govea8
1Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA, 17815, USA
2New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA
3Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA
4University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
5SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
6Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
7SUNY Upstate Norton College of Medicine, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
8Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Melbourne, FL, 32901, USA
*Corresponding author: Olivia V Lim, MD, Geisinger Health System, 17209 Cub Circle, Bloomsburg, PA, 17815, USA, Tel: 304-552-6168, ORCID: 0009-0002-5714-8455, Email: [email protected]
Received Date: August 06, 2025
Publication Date: September 01, 2025
Citation: Lim OV, et al. (2025). Analyzing Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Pediatric and Adolescent Populations. Dermis. 5(4):46.
Copyright: Lim OV, et al. © (2025).
ABSTRACT
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disorder that increasingly affects pediatric and adolescent populations, with up to half of patients reporting symptom onset before adulthood. Most cases arise during early adolescence (ages 12–15) and show a marked female predominance. Early-onset HS is more likely in those with a positive family history and is associated with more extensive disease. Diagnostic delays and misdiagnoses are common due to clinical overlap with other skin conditions and under-recognition by providers, contributing to significant physical and psychosocial morbidity, including pain, disfigurement, malodor, and impaired quality of life. Pediatric HS is frequently associated with comorbidities such as obesity, acne, polycystic ovary syndrome, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression. The pathogenesis in this population is multifactorial, involving genetic predisposition, hormonal influences, early puberty, and modifiable risk factors such as obesity. These factors collectively contribute to disease severity and underscore the need for hormonal evaluation in affected children. The psychosocial impact of pediatric HS is profound, often affecting self-esteem, social functioning, and mental health. Management of pediatric HS is challenging due to the absence of formal guidelines and limited pediatric-specific data. Current treatment approaches rely heavily on adult studies, with topical and systemic antibiotics used for mild to moderate disease, and biologics (e.g., adalimumab, approved for patients ≥ 12 years), hormonal agents, and procedural interventions for more severe cases. However, evidence regarding treatment safety, long-term outcomes, and optimal strategies in this age group remains scarce. There is an urgent need for prospective, pediatric-focused studies to better define epidemiology, characterize comorbidities, and establish age-appropriate management strategies. Inclusion of pediatric patients in clinical trials is crucial for developing evidence-based, developmentally sensitive care and enhancing outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Keywords: Pediatric Patients, Skin Disorder, Obesity, Children, Psychiatric Disorders
