While prescription medication is the recommended course of treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa sometimes the condition is just so severe that it requires other alternative forms of treatment. Doctors or dermatologists will usually do one of three types of procedures to help treat this condition. Here is a look at the three treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa.
Incisions and Draining. If the condition is reserved to a small section of the body the doctor may recommend creating an incision and draining the sores. This procedure is usually done in the doctor’s office under local anesthetic. Creating an incision and draining the sore is not a treatment that will prevent the condition from returning but it will provide pain relief to the patient.
Uncovering Tracts and Tunnels. Many times hidradenitis suppurativa is made worse by the fact that there are tunnels and tracts under the skin. This causes the sores and lumps to not be able to heal as fast as they should. The doctor can perform a surgical procedure that involves the cutting of the skin or flesh and exposing the tracts or tunnels. This allows the sores and lesions to heal over time. Again this is not a treatment but instead will provide pain relief and a quicker healing time.
Removal Through Surgery. Through a complex surgery a doctor can remove all the skin that is in an affected area. This is done by removing the skin that is closest to the area and replacing it with a skin graft. Removal has been known to successfully treat the condition but only in the area that has been removed. The condition can still occur in other areas of the body.
