Subcutaneous injections of procaine penicillin in treatment of chronic sycosis vulgaris and hidradenitis suppurativa axillaris.

Abstract

Sycosis vulgaris, a purulent folliculitis and perifolliculitis of staphylococcic origin, and hidradenitis suppurativa, an inflammatory disease in apocrine gland-bearing areas which is sometimes referred to as a staphyloderma, have several things in common: the infectious agent, the extreme chronicity and the frequent remissions and relapses. In addition, both these conditions are deep infections, for in chronic sycosis vulgaris 1 the pathological process may involve the entire cutis and in hidradenitis suppurativa 2 the infection usually spreads throughout the subcutaneous tissues. In the later stages of hidradenitis suppurativa suppuration persists and extends into the deep layers of the subcutaneous tissue with the formation of extensive sinus tracts. The methods of treating these disorders are legion, and the prognosis not always favorable. George C. Andrews 3 in discussing the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa axillaris advises, first, roentgen therapy as the therapy of choice and, second, in cases in which there is no response to irradiation, surgical excision of the affected skin area and replacement with a full thickness graft.