When is steroid injection into the skin recommended for hidradenitis suppurativa?

Hidradenitis suppurativa causes recurring inflamed nodules, abscesses, drainage, and tunnels in areas where skin rubs together. An intralesional corticosteroid is injected into a selected inflamed nodule to reduce swelling and discomfort. It is a targeted measure for an individual flare, not a cure for the underlying tendency to develop lesions.

A larger abscess, a draining tunnel, widespread disease, or repeated flares may need a different approach. Your dermatologist may combine local treatment with wound care, medicines, procedures, and a plan for preventing or reducing future flares.

Seek assessment early in a painful flare so the clinician can distinguish a nodule from a collection that needs drainage. Share the locations of previous lesions, drainage, scarring, and any medicines already tried. Do not squeeze or puncture the area yourself.

Keep the site clean and use the recommended dressing or pain measures after treatment. Ask when to return if the nodule remains tense, continues draining, or repeatedly returns in the same place.

Obtain prompt medical care for rapidly spreading redness, severe or escalating pain, fever, chills, weakness, or foul-smelling drainage. These features can signal infection or a lesion needing treatment beyond a local injection. Recurrent tunnels and scarring also deserve a planned dermatology review.

Ask whether this lesion is a suitable target, whether drainage is needed instead, how to dress the area, and what longer-term plan could reduce repeated flares in the same skin folds.