Is there a role for patients who have a strong familial history of HS to receive a genetics evaluation or referral to clinical trials?

Unfortunately, there isn't yet a genetic test to determine the risk of HS. There are multiple centers working on genome-wide association studies looking for genetic markers. You can refer any HS patient to participate in those trials.

Here are links to some of those studies:

• Chicago: NCT05710393
• San Francisco: NCT04115566

Detroit: email: HSResearch@hfhs.org Call: (313)-556-7779

I do make sure to talk to my HS patients about having conversations with their family members, especially their children, about HS and what to look for. When kids hit puberty, their bodies change a lot. I tell parents to talk to them about HS, so if they start getting signs/symptoms/boils, they don't think it's just part of puberty and seek care.