Surgical control of Hailey-Hailey disease.

Hailey-Hailey disease is a benign, chronic genodermatosis manifested by recurrent lesions with a predilection for the intertriginous areas. The malodorous, weeping sores are a source of great discomfort to the patient. Medical therapy controls most lesions adequately; however, some are refractory. Experience with excision of skin involved with Hailey-Hailey disease is reported. The best results were obtained in those patients whose wounds were resurfaced with split skin grafts. Primary suture was associated with recurrent disease and residual morbidity. The findings of other isolated reports in the literature are also summarised. The results show that surgical control of Hailey-Hailey disease is indicated in recalcitrant cases.