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Hidradenitis suppurativa : treatment summary

This table outlines the recommended medical management steps for hidradenitis suppurativa, including topical and systemic antibiotic options and the assessment process. This is based on the BAD guidelines.

Medical ManagementRecommendations
Topical Antibacterial Preparations- Use regularly to reduce skin carriage of bacteria.

- Consider the following options:

1. Chlorhexidine 4% wash – can be used as a soap

substitute but should be washed off after five minutes.

2. Clindamycin 1% twice daily for localized cases –

avoid alcoholic preparations due to stinging.
Systemic Antibiotics (First Line)- Consider Tetracyclines as the first-line treatment.

- Options include:

- Lymecycline: 408 mg daily for 12 weeks.

- Doxycycline: 100 mg daily (can be increased to twice

daily for severe symptoms) for 12 weeks.

- For acute flare-ups, consider:

- Stopping lymecycline/doxycycline and giving flucloxacillin

for no more than 2 weeks.

- If penicillin allergic, consider clindamycin.

- Antibiotics options:

- Flucloxacillin: 500mg QDS for 7-10 days.

- Clindamycin (if penicillin-allergic): 300mg QDS (can

increase to 450mg QDS) for 7-10 days.
Assessment at 12 Weeks- Assess pain, lesion count, and number of flares in the

last month.
Lack of Response- If there is no response, refer to the dermatologist-led...

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