Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD: Healing Spaces and Holistic HS Care

In an era of evolving treatment landscapes for chronic skin diseases, Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, believes dermatology has reached a critical inflection point, especially in the care of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

In a recent interview with Dermatology Times, Friedman spotlighted the often-overlooked psychosocial burden of HS and the promising role of patient-founded organizations like HS Connect in bridging care gaps dermatologists cannot always fill. The conversation centered around Healing Spaces, a new initiative by HS Connect,¹ that aims to address the mental health and emotional fallout many HS patients continue to experience even after disease control.

While awareness of disease burden is high among clinicians, Friedman cautioned that recognition doesn’t equate to preparedness.

"Just because we recognize it doesn't mean we're necessarily equipped or trained to address these issues," he said. "The psychosocial elements of chronic inflammatory skin diseases are extraordinary, and we are extraordinarily underprepared to address these."

As a patient-driven organization, HS Connect provides dermatologists and patients alike with tools to confront the non-physical scars of HS. From handouts and educational flyers to support networks and validated community-building, these resources are designed to give dermatologists what Friedman calls "a lifeline."

"I think that what HS Connect has done here is really going to allow us as dermatologists and dermatology practitioners to better engage patients about this because we have that lifeline, we have that partner in crime, to really give the patient the full 360 that they need," he said.

For many patients, HS is more than painful nodules and draining abscesses—it’s also years of misdiagnosis, stigma, and isolation. Friedman noted that the average time from symptom onset to diagnosis remains 7 to 10 years.² During that time, patients may internalize misinformation, blame themselves, or be subject to bias from others, including some health care professionals.

"A condition like hidradenitis suppurativa that’s often misunderstood for being the patient’s fault—that, ‘Oh, it’s because they’re dirty or they eat poorly, they smoke, or it’s contagious,’ all those [are] incorrect," said Friedman. "But knowing that others are suffering, and others have experienced this, is certainly validating."

Even as HS receives more attention with an increase in clinical trials, educational efforts, and FDA-approved biologicst, Friedman noted there remains a missing piece. Healing Spaces addresses the psychological burden patients may still carry after treatment begins.

"No question, managing the disease will have a lateral impact on psychological well-being, but it may not be enough," Friedman said. "Even if you get the disease under control, there could be still a lot to unpack there."

Friedman also emphasized how HS Connect supports busy dermatology practices by supplying ready-to-use tools such as QR codes, informational handouts, and patient education materials. These assets help clinicians incorporate emotional and social support into a practice model already strained by time and staffing pressures.

"Our practices are super busy, and they’re only getting busier as we’re expected to see more patients with less time and less resources," he said. "Partnering with especially patient-run and founded organizations that get it…really can make our jobs a lot easier and more effective."

Friedman’s own involvement with HS Connect began when he was “volun-told” to join by founder Brindley Brooks. That initial nudge has since grown into an enthusiastic partnership driven by a shared mission to improve patient care.

"We individually can’t do it on our own," Friedman said. "Whether it’s pushing and moving the needle on an approval or even pipeline for drugs for disease states that have nothing, or coming up with great resources like Healing Spaces, we need to really rely on our community."

That community includes not just dermatologists, but also patients, advocates, caregivers, and industry partners. Friedman pointed to Healing Spaces as a model of what is possible when stakeholders collaborate: a patient-led, resource-rich program that empowers clinicians and helps patients feel seen, supported, and no longer alone.

References

1. HS Connect launches "The Healing Space": A first-of-its-kind mental health hub for hidradenitis suppurativa patients. News release. HS Connect. May 2, 2025. Accessed June 13, 2025. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hs-connect-launches-healing-space-135700432.html?guccounter=1
2. Martins IA, Vilela BF, Cabete J. Diagnostic delay in hidradenitis suppurativa: still an unsolved problem. Skin Appendage Disord. 2024;10(2):129–132. doi:10.1159/000534845. PMID: 38572195.