For dermatologic conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and psoriatic disease, timely diagnosis plays a critical role in disease management. Data has shown that for people living with psoriatic disease, for example, preventing delays in diagnosis supports better patient outcomes, including less damage from inflammation over time.1-2 As researchers continue to learn more about less commonly known dermatologic diseases, like HS, early identification is again proving to be key.3-4
HS is a chronic, recurring, inflammatory skin disease. Living with it can be painful, with symptoms that include nodules, abscesses, and tunneling.3-4 HS can also impact quality of life, preventing many people from advancing their careers, attending school, traveling, or connecting with others.5
For people living with HS, a diagnosis may take an average of 10 years following symptom onset. While HS can initially present as less severe, if left untreated, the disease can progress, with chronic pain and discomfort, deep nodules, and extensive tissue damage.3,6-7 In fact, pain is a hallmark symptom of HS that we aim to address with our clinical research and solutions. Even short delays can lead to irreversible and painful scarring.8 By diagnosing HS early and working with their patients to identify an appropriate treatment, healthcare professionals may help leverage a “window of opportunity” before this painful disease progresses.9
Once a patient has achieved a response, it’s critical to maintain that response.10-11 While people living with psoriasis may not face the same delay in diagnosis as those living with HS, they have typically cycled through treatments for years due to lack of continued response.12 That’s why in psoriasis, we are continuously studying solutions that could provide long-term, complete, or nearly complete skin clearance. Solutions that provide long-term disease management can help patients strive to live their best lives, returning to the activities they love over the long run.
