How to Treat HS

Written by

Amit Garg, MD

Secretary, HS Foundation

Feature Story

HS Is a Systemic Disease. The Evidence Base Has to Reflect That.

For years HS was treated as a skin disease, but large-scale data now show it touches nearly every organ system. That changes how clinicians choose treatment and how payers weigh its cost, and it raises the bar for the evidence the field needs to build.

October 12, 2026

Read Article

Don't Miss It:

Guidelines Are a First Step. The Harder Work Comes Next.

For two centuries HS had no approved therapies; now there are three and more on the way. Publishing the new joint AAD and HS Foundation guidelines is the easy part, and the real work is getting those therapies to patients through access, research, and earlier treatment. Read Article

September 21, 2026

Written by Haley B. Naik, MD — President, HS Foundation

There Was No Playbook for HS Care. There Is One Now.

A decade ago, hidradenitis suppurativa had no FDA-approved therapies and few experts to treat it — here's how HS went from a specialist-only disease to one the whole dermatology community is learning to manage, and where the next wave of therapies is headed. Read Article

August 20, 2026

Written by Christopher Sayed, MD — Vice President, HS Foundation; Professor of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The First Doctor an HS Patient Sees Is Usually Not a Dermatologist.

More than 80 percent of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa first present to a clinician who is not a dermatologist. Primary care. OB/GYN. Urgent care. The emergency department. That is where care begins, and where the seven-to-ten-year delay to diagnosis begins with it. Read Article

July 22, 2026

Written by Steven Daveluy, MD — Professor of Dermatology, Wayne State University

HS Care Has Outgrown Its Standards. The Field Is Catching Up.

Whether you're a clinician navigating inconsistent referral pathways or a payer making coverage decisions against a rapidly shifting evidence base, the upcoming joint AAD and HS Foundation guidelines may be the clinical anchor you've been missing. Read Article

May 18, 2026

Written by Brent Hazelett, MPA, CAE — Chief Executive Officer, The HS Foundation

How to Treat HS

Clinical Guidelines Launching Soon

The HS Foundation, in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology, will release new evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for HS.

How to Treat HS is a clinical education resource developed by the HS Foundation to support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis, staging, and management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

The platform will provide access to newly developed clinical guidelines and practical tools designed to support consistent, evidence-based care.

Be notified when the new HS Clinical Guidelines are released.

Who This Is For?

This resource is intended for healthcare professionals, including:

Dermatologists
Primary care clinicians
Emergency & urgent care providers
Other clinicians involved in HS care

Additional resources for payers and health systems will also be available.

What You'll Get.

When the guidelines are released, registered users will receive access to:

Clinical practice guidelines for HS
Diagnostic & treatment pathways
Educational resources & CME opportunities
Updates as new guidance & tools become available

Be notified when the new HS Clinical Guidelines are released.

Powered by the HS Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by Hidradenitis Suppurativa.