Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Skin Cancer: What To Know About Risk

Medically reviewed by Nahla Maher, M.D.

Written by Torrey Kim

Posted on May 26, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition that may be linked to a higher risk of certain skin cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

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Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes lesions in areas where skin rubs together, such as the armpits or groin. Studies suggest that people living with HS may have a higher risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

If you’re living with HS, understanding this connection can help you watch for possible skin cancer symptoms. Finding skin changes early may improve the chances of successful treatment before cancer spreads.

Skin Cancer and HS: What’s the Link?

Hidradenitis suppurativa is associated with a higher risk of several types of cancer, including nonmelanoma skin cancer.

One study found that people with HS were 4.6 times more likely to develop nonmelanoma skin cancer. Another study found that people with HS were a little more than twice as likely to develop nonmelanoma skin cancer compared with the general population.

The second study was conducted in Asia, where skin cancer rates are generally lower than in other populations. This may partly explain the lower risk estimate.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies that included 624,000 people with HS found that people with HS had a significantly higher overall cancer risk.

However, unlike some smaller studies, this analysis did not find an increased risk of skin cancers or melanoma. These findings suggest that shared risk factors, including smoking and metabolic conditions, may contribute more strongly to cancer risk.

More research is needed to understand how often people with HS develop skin cancer.

Why Might HS Raise Skin Cancer Risk?

The exact connection between hidradenitis suppurativa and skin cancer is still unclear. Some researchers believe chronic inflammation may play a role. HS causes ongoing inflammation over time, and long-term inflammation is a known cancer risk factor.

Researchers also think that human papillomavirus (HPV) may contribute to the connection in some people.

One study looked at the link between squamous cell carcinoma and HS. Researchers found that about 30 percent of people with both HS and SCC also had HPV.

Another study suggested that HS may cause problems with lymphatic drainage. This may weaken the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy cancerous cells.

More large studies are needed to better understand how HS may raise skin cancer risk.

Shared Risk Factors

Researchers have identified several factors that may increase skin cancer risk in people with HS, including:

Having HS abscesses on the buttocks or genitals
Being male
Developing HS at a younger age
Having long-lasting HS lesions
Smoking cigarettes

Having one of these risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop skin cancer. Talk with your dermatologist about your personal level of risk.

Skin Cancer Screenings for People With HS

One important way to lower the risk of advanced skin cancer is to report skin changes to your doctor promptly. Diagnosing skin cancer early allows treatment to begin before the cancer metastasizes (spreads to other parts of the body).

If you’re living with HS, checking your skin regularly at home can help you spot possible signs of skin cancer. Tell your doctor about any lesions that are new, changing, painful, or not healing.

Skin cancer can be harder to detect in people with HS. HS can cause discoloration, scabbing, crusting, and uneven skin texture, which may make cancer warning signs less noticeable.

That’s why regular skin exams with a dermatologist are important. Health experts often recommend annual skin checks. Try to see a dermatologist who’s familiar with HS and can tell the difference between HS lesions and skin cancer.

Skin exams at home or at the doctor’s office should include your entire body, not just areas affected by HS.

Skin Cancer Symptoms To Know

People living with HS should be on the lookout for symptoms of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The two most common types of these are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and SCC. Each type can cause different symptoms.

Key signs of basal cell carcinoma include:

A scarlike mark that wasn’t caused by an injury — BCC may appear as a flat, shiny lesion with ill-defined borders.
A shiny or waxy bump — The bump may look pink, red, white, tan, brown, or black, depending on skin tone, and may look pearly or resemble a mole.
A sore that repeatedly bleeds and scabs — It may seem to heal and then return.
An irritated patch of skin — The area may be itchy and look reddish or darker than the surrounding skin.
A small pink growth — The raised center may look crusty or scabbed, and the edges may appear raised or rolled. You may also be able to see small blood vessels.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is a recognized but infrequent complication of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Possible symptoms of SCC include:

A flat, irritated spot or a crusty lesion — It may look like a scab and can sometimes bleed.
A raised growth — The edges are often higher than the center.
A wartlike growth — It’s usually rough or scaly in appearance.
An open sore that doesn’t fully heal — The sore may seem to scab over but keeps growing, hurting, or bleeding instead of healing.

Skin Cancer Treatment

Several treatment options for skin cancer are available. These treatments are generally the same for people with HS and those who don’t have it.

Surgery is often used to remove the cancer and a small border of nearby healthy tissue to help prevent the cancer from spreading.

Sometimes, radiation, chemotherapy, or other therapies are also needed to treat skin cancer. Skin cancer treatments may be applied directly to the skin, taken by mouth, or given through an IV infusion.

Your healthcare team can explain which treatments may be most appropriate for your type of skin cancer.

Speak With Your Dermatologist

If you’re living with HS, talk with your dermatology team about managing your cancer risk. They can help you understand your risk and recommend ways to monitor your skin and catch problems early.