How to reduce hidradenitis suppurative scars? (+3 options)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will discuss the strategies to reduce hidradenitis suppurative scars. The reader will also understand the type of scars that can be formed due to hidradenitis suppurative and which treatment is best for the specific type of scar.
How to reduce hidradenitis suppurative scars?
There are various methods to reduce hidradenitis suppurative-induced scarring. The foremost tip to know about scarring and treatment options is to try to avoid getting them in the first place.
Once you identify that you are having boils, or cysts in the groin region, hair follicle, armpit or breast region, you should immediately contact your dermatologist. Hidradenitis suppurative, also known as acne inversa, is a chronic and painful disorder that causes cysts and lesions to grow on and under the skin.
These boils are formed due to an inflammatory response. You must keep the infected area clean, disinfected, and moisturised. Broken cysts and lesions can cause deep scarring and alter the colour of the skin.
How to reduce hidradenitis suppurative scaring at home?
A few tips to minimize hidradenitis suppurative scaring at home include the use of:
- Chemical exfoliants: chemicals like glycolic acid, and lactic acid work to gradually remove pigmented skin cells. These can used at home as toners.
- Petroleum jelly: it can be used to massage the affected area. This will improve blood flow and promote healing.
- Smoking cessation: Smoking can flare up hidradenitis suppurative. Therefore, patients should quit smoking to prevent the reoccurrence and scarring.
- Scar dressing: when the cysts burst, they discharge a liquid. Scar dressing can minimise scarring and protect the wound.
What is the effective treatment for reducing hidrandenitis suppurative scars?
Home treatment is just an option and not a professional treatment. Consult a dermatologist to reduce hidradenitis suppurative scaring. A dermatologist might adopt one of the following options to reduce the scars:
- Microneedling: the micron-sized needles help to increase the production of collagen when rolled onto the skin. They are more effective for flatter scars.
- Steroid injections: triamcinolone acetonide helps minimize the keloid scars and prevent their reoccurrence. However, it can also delay wound healing.
- Carbon dioxide laser: during this treatment, controlled injuries caused by the laser increase the production of collagen. This improves the scar texture. It is useful in the management of keloids and hypertrophic scars.
- Pulsed dye laser (PDL): to reset wound healing and enhance overall texture, thick and red scars can be treated with PDL. This can be further refined by treatment with ablative fractional laser.
- Lightning and brightening creams: topical therapies with these chemicals can decrease the colour of dark, pigmented scars. The chemicals found in these creams can include Vitamin C, kojic acid, and tranexamic acid.
- Surgery: it involves surgery of the local area and is more useful in the treatment of tunnelled scars. The upper lesion is removed with the surgical procedure to expose the tunnels formed underneath the skin.
What does the research suggest?
A retrospective cohort study reported that hidradenitis suppurative recurrence happened in 35% of the patients (n=75) after surgery. Almost 81% of the patients were satisfied with the surgical procedure (1).
In one of the clinical reports, six patients with hidradenitis suppurative were given subcutaneous injections of etanercept. The patients showed improvement in their condition with minimum occurrence of relapse. Also, no adverse effects were reported (2). However, such studies were not confirmed on a large population.
In another study, 47% of the patients (n=17) given the treatment of acitretin for hedradenitis suppurative discontinued the therapy due to the high dose of the drug and adverse effects (3).
What type of scaring can occur due to hidradenitis suppurative?
The scars formed by hidradenitis suppurative vary between individuals. The dermatologist would be a better judge of the type of scarring. These scars include:
- Keloids: chronic inflammatory hidradenitis suppurative lesion can result in keloid development. This can include both inflammatory lesions and scars (4).
- Flat scars: these scars are flatter in shape.
- Tunnelled scars: Sometimes hidradenitis suppurate cysts develop tunnel-like passages under the skin and cause scarring during the healing process.
- Pink scars: these scars are lighter in colour and occur due to hyperpigmentation.
- Brown scars: these scars are darker in colour and occur due to hyperpigmentation.
- Hypermelonosis: it is caused by an increase in melanin production following inflammation and hidradenitis suppurative flareup (5).
I used to feel insecure due to a simple scar on my body, even due to acne. With time I learned that the foremost thing is to accept your condition and then work around it to get the best treatment possible. I believe opting for surgery is the most efficient way of treating and preventing hidradenitis suppurative scarring.
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References
1.-
Fertitta L, Hotz C, Wolkenstein P, Méningaud JP, Sawan D, Hersant B, Sbidian E. Efficacy and satisfaction of surgical treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2020 Apr;34(4):839-45. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jdv.16135
2.-
Cusack C, Buckley C. Etanercept: effective in the management of hidradenitis suppurativa. British Journal of Dermatology. 2006 Apr 1;154(4):726-9. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.07067.x
3.-
Matusiak Ł, Bieniek A, Szepietowski JC. Acitretin treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa: a prospective series of 17 patients. British Journal of Dermatology. 2014 Jul 1;171(1):170-4. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjd.12884
4.-
Jfri A, O’Brien E, Alavi A, Goldberg SR. Association of hidradenitis suppurativa and keloid formation: a therapeutic challenge. JAAD Case Reports. 2019 Aug 1;5(8):675-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6698290/
5.-
Scheinfeld N. An atlas of the morphological manifestations of hidradenitis suppurativa. Dermatology online journal. 2014;20(4). https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1vq1h3h6
