Surgery combined with photodynamic therapy for the treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A report of 7 cases

Abstract Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in the area of the apocrine sweat glands. The treatment of HS is relatively difficult. Therefore, surgery combined with PDT was applied to treat 7 cases of patients in this study, and treatment efficacy was observed. Simple surgical incisions and drainage were performed for patients with Hurley grade I. Surgical incisions and drainage as well as the removal of necrotic tissues were performed for patients with grades II and III. Immediately after surgery, PDT was performed. Their average Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was 24.14 ± 4.26 before the surgery and 4.86 ± 2.79 5 months after treatment, respectively. Scale (VSS) scores for evaluating scar formation were low to moderate after surgery and PDT. The experience of treating these 7 patients suggests that surgery combined with PDT might have a more pronounced effect, with the possible advantages of faster healing and less scarring.