INTRODUCTION
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic condition that presents with inflammatory lesions which commonly present at sites bearing apocrine glands. HS is a multifactorial disease, and factors such as genetics, existing inflammatory conditions, hormonal imbalances, and smoking all contribute to its pathogenesis.2,3 HS lesions are often deep seated and develop as nodules, abscesses, or draining sinus tracts. Severe progression of the disease may also lead to the formation of open comedones, disfiguring scarring, and fistulas.4 These lesions often reappear in areas where skin surfaces come in contact, such as the groin, axilla, perianal, and sub-mammary regions.5 The pathogenesis of HS is complex and nonlinear, involving follicular occlusion and an inappropriate and robust inflammatory response when the occlusion ruptures, leading to cycles of tissue destruction and scarring.2 The quality of life of patients with HS is greatly affected, demonstrated by patients with HS scoring low on a self-reported level of health status scales and taking a higher frequency of sick leave from work.6
Management strategies for HS have many limitations because there lacks a universally accepted treatment protocol, and it is often treated with a combination of modalities, including topical and systemic medications and surgical interventions.23 Laser hair removal has been used as a means for hair depilation. It works by selectively targeting melanin within hair follicles photothermally while sparing the surrounding tissue.7 Melanin within hair follicles absorbs wavelengths admitted by lasers, converts it to heat, and diffuses it to cause damage to the stem cells within the follicle.7 A variety of laser types are used in hair depilation and vary in range in the wavelengths they emit, with longer wavelengths causing fewer adverse effects and penetrating deeper melanin.7 The wavelength of the alexandrite laser is 755 nm, while the wavelength for the long-pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser is 1,1064 nm; and intense pulsed light (IPL) 590 nm to 1200 nm.7
While laser hair removal has long been used for cosmetic hair removal, its use in the treatment of dermatologic conditions has gained recent acceptance. Recently,
Management strategies for HS have many limitations because there lacks a universally accepted treatment protocol, and it is often treated with a combination of modalities, including topical and systemic medications and surgical interventions.23 Laser hair removal has been used as a means for hair depilation. It works by selectively targeting melanin within hair follicles photothermally while sparing the surrounding tissue.7 Melanin within hair follicles absorbs wavelengths admitted by lasers, converts it to heat, and diffuses it to cause damage to the stem cells within the follicle.7 A variety of laser types are used in hair depilation and vary in range in the wavelengths they emit, with longer wavelengths causing fewer adverse effects and penetrating deeper melanin.7 The wavelength of the alexandrite laser is 755 nm, while the wavelength for the long-pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser is 1,1064 nm; and intense pulsed light (IPL) 590 nm to 1200 nm.7
While laser hair removal has long been used for cosmetic hair removal, its use in the treatment of dermatologic conditions has gained recent acceptance. Recently,
