A survey of smoking habits and perspectives in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Patients attending the hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) clinic at our centre were surveyed about their smoking habits and their perspectives on the relationship between smoking and HS. In total, 27 of 34 patients (73.0%) had a smoking history, and age of onset of smoking preceded age of onset of HS in 81.5%, with an average time interval of 5 years. There were mixed patient perceptions on the role of smoking in HS, highlighting the need for more research in this area, and the importance of engaging and educating patients on the results of epidemiological studies in HS.