Abstract
Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) suffer impaired quality of life due to pain, exudate, and odor. These effects have the potential to be assuaged by the selection of appropriate dressings. However, evidence-based data to support the choice of dressings in HS is limited. Selecting the best dressing is challenging given the heterogenous nature of lesion types and involvement of difficult anatomical areas (e.g., the axilla and groin). A variety of dressings that can be used for HS wounds are herein discussed, with a focus on evidence-based evaluation of their strengths, weaknesses, and efficacy in achieving beneficial clinical and quality-of-life outcomes. Then, a lesion-based clinical approach is proposed for each type of HS wound, including typical lesions (e.g., nodules, abscesses, etc.) and post-surgical wounds. Finally, an overarching algorithm for dressing selection in HS patients is outlined.