Connecting the Dots
HS Often Comes with “Friends” or Comorbidities
People living with HS may also experience symptoms involving mental health, joints, the digestive system, hormones, metabolic health, and other areas of the body. This interactive tool is designed to help you notice patterns, learn what may be worth discussing, and prepare more focused questions for your healthcare team.
Select points on the body map below. Each point opens information about a related condition, including symptoms to watch for, questions to ask, possible screenings, and the type of specialist who may be involved. Your selections are collected into a printable appointment summary.
What have you noticed?
Tap a point on the body to explore a possible connection. Choose as many as apply to build your personal discussion guide.
Tap a point to add it to your map and see details.
Your map
Nothing selected yet — choose points on the body and watch your appointment map build here.
HS can connect to more than the skin.
The body map above highlights selected conditions that can help start a conversation. This reference section expands the picture using the HS Connect comorbidities document, including comorbidities, other reported associations, and complications of HS.
Psychiatric & psychosocial
- Depression*
- Anxiety
- Suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide)
- Suicide
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
- Personality disorders
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Insomnia and other sleep disturbances
- Sexual dysfunction
- Substance use disorders*
- Tobacco smoking*
- Opioids
- Alcohol
- Cannabis
Metabolic
- Metabolic syndrome* — generally at least 3 of: abdominal obesity, elevated fasting glucose, elevated triglycerides, hypertension, reduced HDL cholesterol
- Obesity*
- Hypertension*
- Dyslipidemia*
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus*
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Acanthosis nigricans
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Cardiovascular & cerebrovascular
- Coronary artery disease
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Cerebrovascular disease / stroke
Inflammatory & rheumatologic
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)* — Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spondyloarthropathies — including ankylosing spondylitis
- Seronegative arthritis
- Psoriasis vulgaris
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
- Other various autoinflammatory syndromes
Dermatologic & related follicular disorders
- Follicular Occlusion Tetrad — HS, acne conglobata, dissecting cellulitis of the scalp, and pilonidal disease
- Acne vulgaris
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff)
- Alopecia areata
- Vitiligo
Endocrine & reproductive
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)* — also referred to in the document as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)
- Irregular menstruation
- Hirsutism
- Precocious puberty
- Adrenal hyperplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
Respiratory, sleep & neurologic
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Asthma / reactive airway disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Epilepsy (seizure disorder)
Renal, hematologic, GI & ocular
- Kidney dysfunction
- Anemia
- Cholelithiasis (gallstones)
- Uveitis
- Conjunctivitis
- Keratitis
- Episcleritis
- Scleritis
- Corneal ulcers
- Marginal corneal ulcers
Other reported associations
- Herpes simplex
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Influenza (flu)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Septicemia (blood infection)
- Lymphoma
- Trisomy 21 / Down syndrome
Complications of HS
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Chronic draining sinus tracts
- Scarring
- Contractures
- Restricted mobility
- Chronic pain
- Malodor
- Lymphedema
- Fistula formation
- Chronic wounds
- Functional impairment
Resources you can use right away.
If something on this page points you toward another part of your HS care, these links can help you get there without having to search for it.
Coverage Compass & prior authorization help
If insurance is standing between you and an HS treatment, start with HS Connect’s Coverage Compass. The Insurance & Disability Resource Hub includes prior authorization guidance and templates, financial-assistance resources, disability support, and state-by-state resources.
Specialty pharmacy support
Some HS medications are filled through a specialty pharmacy rather than a local retail pharmacy. Your insurer or medication manufacturer may require a specific specialty pharmacy. They can help coordinate prescription processing, insurance requirements, shipment, refills, and medication-access steps.
If you are not sure which specialty pharmacy you should use, check your insurance plan or contact the manufacturer’s patient-support program for your prescribed medication.
Find an HS provider
Need a dermatologist or clinician familiar with HS? Search the HS Connect provider directory by location and provider type.
HS support groups
Connect with free HS Connect support groups created for different ages, identities, caregivers, and lived experiences.
My symptom summary
I have hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and noticed symptoms that may be related to the conditions below, which are known to occur alongside HS. I’d like to talk through whether any follow-up or referral makes sense.
A tool for conversation — not diagnosis.
Connecting the Dots is intended to help people with HS prepare for conversations with qualified healthcare professionals. Selecting a symptom or condition does not mean you have that condition, and testing or referrals should be determined with your healthcare team.