Question
hi,
i was wondering if anyone knew if laser hair removal is recommended or not recommended if you have hidradenitis suppurativa? any info would be appreciated. thanks

Answer
hi,
i was wondering if anyone knew if laser hair removal is recommended or not recommended if you have hidradenitis suppurativa? any info would be appreciated. thanks

Answer
Hidradenitis suppuritiva represents inflammation and intermittent infection of the apocrine sweat glands. It tends to be a chronic and often severe problem which manifests as swollwn, tender, and sometimes draining nodules in the armpits, groin, and/or perianal area.
Active infection and draining tracts are a contraindication to laser hair removal. When the disease is in a "quiet" phase, laser hair removal is possible. If at all possible, I would use IPL hair removal in this case, as the multiple wavelengths involved may partly improve the disease.
Hidradenitis is typically treated with oral anitbioitics, topical creams, surgical drainage, and sometimes Accutane (the use of Accutane precludes most laser treatments).. More recently, Pulsed Dye Laser therapy has shown to be helpful (the same way it haleps the iflammation of acne). NLite is an example of a pulse dye laser, youcan check ou their website at

Answer
HI, I see you posted this quite some time ago. I too have this lovely disease. Wondering if you ever had the laser hair removal done and if it helped at all. My plastic surgeon recomended it. I'm scheduled for bikini line first in a few weeks, as it should be clear enough to begin at that time. I just had about 5 leisons / boils removed 2 weeks ago.