Differences in Drug Survival of TNF-alpha inhibitors between Pediatric and Adult Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients

Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2026-03-01

Understanding Social Drivers of Health, Burden, and Impact of Hidradenitis Suppurativa among Different Racial and Ethnic Groups in the USA

Dermatology and Therapy · 2026-05-02

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by painful nodules and abscesses, has varying prevalence among different races/ethnicities. This study explored the social drivers of health, burden, and impact of HS among different racial and ethnic groups. METHODS: An online, cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult patients with HS (September 2023-December 2023) in the USA. Patients were recruited through HS Connect (patient advocacy group) and AmeriSpeak (US national sample panel). Descriptive data were collected using patient-reported outcome measures and de novo questions about patients' disease knowledge and perception, healthcare access and utilization, impact on quality of life (QoL), and social impact. All analyses were descriptive and stratified by racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS: The study included 583 patients (mean age, 34.8 years; 95.5% female) representing a range of racial backgrounds: Black or African American (n = 273; 46.8%), white (n = 236; 40.5%), Two or More Races (n = 47; 8.1%), American Indian or Alaska Native (n = 18; 3.1%), Asian (n = 7; 1.2%), and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (n = 2; 0.3%). Ethnic representation also varied (Hispanic/Latino = n = 76; 13.0%). Patients of all races and ethnicities reported considerable QoL impact (Dermatology Life Quality Index, EQ-5D-5L), with results for smaller subgroups (n < 10) included for descriptive completeness only and not intended for comparison with other groups. During flaring, most patients used over-the-counter products/medications (54.2%) or nonmedical intervention/home remedy (56.9%) Up to 36.5% of patients reported challenges in procuring food, utilities, medicine/healthcare, phone, clothing, or childcare when needed in the past year. Among those who paid out-of-pocket for their HS treatment, 55.6% reported that it stopped them from visiting a healthcare provider for treatment. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate a high burden and impact of HS across all races and ethnicities. Patients reported social drivers of health and challenges with healthcare utilization, indicating the need for integrating social workers and care management teams in dermatology practice, which could facilitate improved care of patients with HS.

Rethinking the use of population descriptors in dermatology trials and beyond: disentangling race and ethnicity from skin color

Archives of Dermatological Research · 2025-04-19

IMPORTANCE: Race and ethnicity as population descriptors in research and clinical practice have often been a subject of debate, drawing heightened scrutiny in recent years. Criticism focuses on their oversimplification and misapplication, which fail to capture the complexity of human health and genetic diversity. There is growing recognition that these categories, rooted in outdated social constructs, do not accurately reflect biological differences. OBSERVATIONS: Historically, race and ethnicity have been used as proxies for genetic variation and skin color, despite the understanding that these constructs are not biologically defined. The Skin of Color Society's second Meeting the Challenge Summit, attended by over 100 U.S. and international participants, highlighted several key themes: (1) the need for transparency in the rationale behind using population descriptors and decision-making processes; (2) recognizing the role of race and racism in dermatology; (3) exploring the intersection of dermatology, skin color, and cultural influences; (4) understanding the context of population descriptor usage; (5) developing improved, objective tools for classifying skin color; and (6) advancing research and creating guidelines. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: There is an urgent need to reconsider the use of race and ethnicity as population descriptors in dermatology research. Current systems, which conflate social identity with biological markers, perpetuate health disparities and limit the accuracy of clinical data. Moving forward, more specific descriptors such as skin color, alongside socially determined factors, will be crucial in achieving meaningful diversity and inclusivity in clinical research.

Correction: Rethinking the use of population descriptors in dermatology trials and beyond: disentangling race and ethnicity from skin color

Archives of Dermatological Research · 2025-06-23

Diabetes status is associated with greater disease severity in hidradenitis suppurativa

JID Innovations · 2025-12-09

= .053) after adjusting for covariates. These findings suggest diabetes and higher HbA1c levels correlate with increased HS severity and pain. Prevention and management of diabetes may therefore modify the clinical course of HS.

Beyond Fitzpatrick skin types: A Delphi consensus on key considerations for a universal skin typing classification

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2025-09-01 · 2 citations

LB1100 Hormonal influence on hidradenitis suppurativa: Perspective for clinical trial design

Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2025-07-21

63238 Understanding Social Drivers of Health Among US Adults with Hidradenitis Suppurativa from Different Races and Ethnicities

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2025-09-01

64584 Skin of Color Society (SOCS) Project to Develop Inclusive Skin Assessment Tools

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2025-09-01

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Management with Antibiotics and Systemic Therapies

Dermatologic Clinics · 2025-01-21 · 4 citations