Open Questions in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Research: A Hair Biologist's Perspective
June 2006
in “
Experimental dermatology
”
TLDR The conclusion suggests that early signs of hidradenitis suppurativa may start in the hair follicle, with genetic and immune factors playing a role, highlighting the need for more research on the hair follicle's immune system.
The document discussed the need for developing comprehensive and testable hypotheses to understand the causes of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit. It suggested that HS likely originated from events in the hair follicle epithelium outer root sheath (ORS) rather than the apocrine gland. The earliest histological abnormality might be follicular hyperkeratosis, with inflammation and apocrine involvement being secondary. The primary defect in HS could be an abnormal release of pro-inflammatory signals from the follicle ORS, influenced by genetic and endocrine factors. The document emphasized the importance of exploring the hair follicle innate immune system in HS patients to unravel its pathogenesis.
