Efficacy of Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disease that involves sebaceous glands and hair follicles of intertriginous areas, including axillary and inguinal regions. It is often chronic, painful, disabling, and can worsen over time. Besides surgically excising affected areas, effective treatments are currently lacking. The long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser is a device that has traditionally been used for hair removal, but has recently shown promise in clearing old lesions of HS and preventing new eruptions. In accordance with studies in the current literature, we hypothesize that the Nd:YAG laser will significantly improve subjects with hidradenitis suppurativa compared to standard, uninvasive treatment with topical antibiotics [1,2]. Study aims include: to treat subjects with hidradenitis suppurativa with Nd:YAG laser therapy once monthly for 3 consecutive months, with a one month followup; to compare the effectiveness of Nd:YAG treatment on one side of the subject (e.g., right) to treatment with topical antibiotics on the subject’s other side (e.g., left); to assess treatment response using a visual analogue scale; to assess subject satisfaction with treatment using a questionnaire; and to photodocument treatment response at each visit.