BJD Thanks for this really important question. HS patients face many barriers in getting care for their condition: getting the correct diagnosis, accessing knowledgeable providers in their vicinity, accessing the medications, accessing mental health and pain management resources.

BJD The pandemic worsened many of these barriers, and created new barriers to HS care. Early in the pandemic, accessing providers for disease flares or maintenance care was challenging. Groups like HS Foundation and #ehsf2021 put out guidance to help patients navigate care during that time

BJD There was also concern that #biologics and immunomodulator therapy might put patients at an increased risk for severe #COVID illness, leading patients to stop the medications that were controlling their #HS either on their own or under MD direction.

BJD We now know from studies in other conditions that patients on biologics who contract #COVID may do as well or better than their non-biologic counterparts.

BJD One of the most important barriers has been a lack of information about how HS patients are doing with #COVID-19 and COVID #vaccines. We have been working to mitigate that barrier through the Global @HSCOVID registry-hscovid.ucsf.edu Michelle Lowes Sandra, your friendly neighborhood HS activist John McGrath

BJD These data will help us understand how HS pts specifically fare with COVID, and whether biologics confer an increased risk of severe COVID illness or complications.

BJD A barrier we want to better understand right now is vaccine hesitancy among HS patients. We are launching a vaccine hesitancy survey the coming days to better understand this concern. Stay tuned! #BJDtalks

A great thread by UC San Francisco dermatologist Dr. Haley Naik. Click to read her insights on the post below and to read the research letter regarding barriers to care for #HidradenitisSuppurativa. UCSF School of Medicine UCSF Health HS Foundation #dermtwitter #dermatology

Preliminary results from the HS COVID Patient Registry! hscovid.ucsf.edu #HidradenitisSuppurativa #HS #dermtwitter #research UC San Francisco HS Foundation

Preliminary results from the HS COVID Patient Registry! hscovid.ucsf.edu #HidradenitisSuppurativa #HS #dermtwitter #research UC San Francisco HS Foundation

Check out our preliminary findings published in JAAD Journals The Global @HSCOVID Registry found that HS patients who get COVID-19 on biologics do NOT have increased COVID severity. Check out our complete findings at jaad.org/article/S0190-… HS Foundation HSFoundation

The COVID-19 pandemic is unfortunately not over. Check out our latest findings from the @HSCOVID registry, and report any new cases at hscovid.ucsf.edu jaad.org/article/S0190-… HS Foundation HSFoundation

Biologic therapy is not associated with increased COVID-19 severity in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: Initial findings from the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa COVID-19 Registry #openaccess #hs #HidradenitisSuppurativa jaad.org/article/S0190-…

We are still collecting responses!

If you live the Bay Area with #HidradenitisSuppurativa, there is a free online support group beginning on January 25th! This support group is open to those with #HS, caregivers and loved ones. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… #HopeforHS #hidradenitis

Updated findings from our registry! We are still collecting responses from HS patients and providers at hscovid.ucsf.edu #hidradenitis #hidradenitissuppurativa #HS #HSCOVID