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The American Academy of Dermatology and the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation have released their first-ever joint clinical guidelines for HS, a painful inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 1.5% of the global population. The 37 evidence-based recommendations cover everything from biologics and antibiotics to pain management and surgical procedures. Experts say the guidelines will help standardize care and improve treatment access for patients who have long faced delays.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Foundation have jointly released the first-ever AAD clinical guidelines for managing HS — a debilitating inflammatory skin condition affecting 0.7%–1.5% of people globally. Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the guidelines include 37 evidence-based recommendations for adults, adolescents, and children aged 9 and older, developed using the rigorous GRADE framework by a 15-member multidisciplinary workgroup.
The guidelines arrive at a pivotal moment: since the last major HS guidance in 2019, two new FDA-approved therapies — bimekizumab and secukinumab — have entered the market, joining adalimumab (approved 2015). Experts note that without standardized guidance, systemic therapy has often been started too late, and patients have faced barriers like step therapy and prior authorization that delay effective care.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: For millions of HS patients who've endured delayed diagnoses and inconsistent treatment, these guidelines offer a long-overdue, evidence-based roadmap — and give clinicians the tools to push back against insurance barriers and deliver earlier, more effective care.
