AAD and HS Foundation Release First Joint Hidradenitis Suppurativa Guidelines

The American Academy of Dermatology and the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation have issued their first joint guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa, marking the first time the two organizations have coordinated on care standards for the disease.

The joint document addresses a condition that has historically suffered from fragmented, inconsistent treatment approaches across clinics. For dermatologists, a shared AAD–HSF framework gives them a single reference point rather than competing institutional protocols.

Why do joint guidelines matter for HS?

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and until now clinicians have relied on guidance developed separately by different bodies. A first-ever joint effort between the AAD, the leading professional society in dermatology, and the HS Foundation, the major patient-focused organization for the disease, signals a deliberate move toward unified standards.

Joint guidelines typically carry more weight in practice. They align specialist and patient-advocacy perspectives, which can smooth adoption in both academic centers and community practices.

What does this change at the point of care?

The guidelines' arrival gives dermatologists a consensus document to anchor treatment decisions for HS patients. That matters for a disease where patients often wait years for accurate diagnosis and where treatment pathways have varied widely between providers.

A single agreed framework can also support:

• More consistent referral and management decisions
• A shared vocabulary between dermatologists and HS-specializing clinicians
• A stronger evidence base for payer and coverage discussions

What comes next?

Publication of the first joint AAD–HSF guidelines sets a precedent for future collaboration between the two organizations, and clinicians can expect subsequent revisions to build on this shared foundation as HS evidence evolves.