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Hidradenitis Suppurativa Remedies

Updated: 11/19/2009

DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

READER COMMENTS

2 QUESTIONS

01/24/2009: Kristina from Tampa, Florida writes: "regarding hidradenitis suppurativa: I have had it since I was 11years old.I am 27 .sometimes I eat red meat which somehow makes it worse. when I am stressed out it gets worse . I tried taking a peroxide bath , which dries my skin out. I have tried alot of soap, even dial bar of soap. please help me."

01/11/2009: Keturah from Albuquerque, New Mexico writes: "Hi I just found this site, I had my first boil (i guess you can call it that) when i was 19 I was carefree and had a rocking body and great skin I was often asked what did I use on my skin. I had a great natural golden glow, then my life slowly been to change, I usually get my boils or cysts on my back...just recently I started to get them under my breasts and in my arm pits...I never knew what I had and had no insurance to go to the derm...I finally got some school money and saw my first derm I was given no help at all. At this time my back now had bullet like holes left from the scarring, I no longer can wear backless anything...I questioned... Was I too vein in my teens and early twenties the reason this happened to me? I saw another derm...at 28 I was pregnant with my son, he told me I had HS...I live in pain...I would burst these things myself because I just could not take the throbin burnin pain another day...and oh the relief! I started to do more research because the derm I started to see didnt make me feel like he wanted to truly help me, He kinda gave me my walking papers...So next week I will meet with another...I have one on my back now! I see now that a soap or pills can not help this alone and this will be a life style change for me...I will try the dial soap my Benzoyl Peroxide is not working and my topical cream is not working, I will try the tumeric, I will also change my diet drastically...I hope my little girl does not have this, and I only got one on my upper thigh...I dont want any in any other areas in that region...but I did get them inside the checks...of you know where! but I was too embrassed too tell anyone. I thougt I had hemorrhoids. But since I'm African American there's a whole set of rules...The derm said that my hair products are most likely the cause of the cysts, but then how will I do my hair? I feel like I've lost so much of my beauty I used to model...Now I have scars on my breasts...In the folds of my cheeks of you know where...and holes and scars all over my back...I had two kids so my tummy isn't like it was when I was 22. I'm just sad, mad, a bitch some days...most days esp. when I have a cyst, but at least...I'm not alone. I guess I will try more natural hair styles but if anyone has any suggestions, post please...most of the ingredients in African American products have stuff in them that you should stay away from."

01/11/2009: Dianna from Austin, TX replies: "you said your derm said your hair care products are giving you your boils? stop using them. i wash my hair with grandpa's pine tar soap once a week and then use a rinse of either ACV (1 capful) or lime juice (1 small (key) lime) and a liter of water.
i now have more beautiful hair than ever. oh - and don't ever use hot water on your hair. i have switched to only washing my hair with cold water and i can't believe the difference it has made. i used to have very dry hair no matter what i put on it conditioner wise. now i don't even need conditioner at all and my hair is long again and in much better condition.

try it!!! you will certainly save money and maybe your skin problems will stop too. when you are bathing all of the stuff from the hair care products goes all down your back and onto your body. makes perfect sense to me. i for one would never put anything on my head/scalp that i couldn't put in my mouth. btw - i also brush my teeth with grandpa's pine tar soap...
djh/texas"

01/12/2009: Amber from Antigua, Guatemala replies: "I read your post and just wanted to share my suggestions:

Spots and boils represent some form of toxicity/poisons that your body wants to get rid of. Cleansing your body (internally) will help tremendously towards getting your healthy,glowing skin back again. As a simple boost - try having 1 or 2 fresh lemons in a glass of water each morning. Look into doing a colon cleaning programme which has tremendous benefits to skin and overall healh. Eat more raw vegetables and fruits to cleanse,nourish and purify your body. Explore the Hydrogen peroxide blogs -this amazing liquid cleanses your blood and kills bacteria and virus', as well as killing the bacteria when applied (concentration of 3% neatly with a Q-tip) directly to the boil.

In terms of beauty/hair products: cold pressed, raw coconut oil (available in most health food stores) makes an excellent hair oil, which shines,conditions and softens as the same time. It also smells divine.

I hope this helps for now."

05/09/2009: NB from Los Angeles, California replies: "Pine tar soap.... that's funny. I, too, am African-American and all this started for me at eight years old. I can barely believe I've been dealing with this for 30 years. I'm not sure which hair products your doc is referring to, but I'm pretty sure the pine tar soap as shampoo deal is NOT gonna work on Black hair. I have natural hair and always have since my teens and still have the condition so I don't know about that.

I'm still trying to discover a cure that will work for me. The less wholesome my diet and lifestyle are the more boils I get. When I was pregnant I had NO boils for the entire time. But afterwards they came back with a vengeance.

It's an ugly, embarrassing, lonely condition.....just keep experimenting, we may luck up. Many blessings and good luck."

07/26/2009: angjoy from Jackson, MI replies: "Hi Keturah, I'm not sure it this would work on your hair or not, but it might be worth a try. When I noticed a couple of places forming on my scalp, I thought, oh no, not my head too, they were small, but painful. I replaced my shampoo with a 1/2 cup of baking soda made into a paste. I have very long hair and yes, you have to get use to 'no lather' but baking soda does a great job of cleaning your hair and scalp. As a matter of fact, I have found that I no longer have to wash my hair daily as I use to. I occasionally do a vinegar rinse. My hair is a lot healthier looking now and no more spots on my scalp.

For anyone wishing to try the 'wonder whatever - 200c Elaps Corallinus', well I did. I went 2 months without a boil. 2 blissful months. The honeymoon is over however. I was so hopeful that this would be the end of this miserable stuff. The gentleman who mentioned that he could relate to Job from the Bible. Funny he mention that. I often felt that way myself. God bless us all. ~Ang"

11/04/2008: Nek from Evansville, Indiana writes: "I have suffered from hidradenitis since puberty. I am now 40 and male. I have read comments about the effectiveness of turmeric for hidradenitis on this site and on others and having suffered in silence for so long I am optomistic, yet skeptical, as to whether it will work. I, too, have tried accutane (God-aweful experience), antibiotics, tretenoin cream, various soaps, etc. (all to no avail) and am very close to making the choice to have a sinus tract surgically removed from my groin. The pain is, as everyone knows, excruciating and until recently (probably the last 1 1/2 years) the disease has manifest itself on both buttocks cheeks. I have connecting sinus tracts all over my bottom (and also have the embarrassing scarring to prove it) and I can only guess that the tissue is so damaged from years of boils on my bottom that the disease needed "fresh meat" and headed to my groin in search of new apocrine sweat glands. Lovely, huh? All of this said, I hope it is understood that I have lived with this affliction for 30-some painfully (literally and figuratively) and, at times, humiliating years and no physician has been able to prescribe a medication that helps.

Inasmuch as I continue to search for a cure, to no avail, I am cautiously optomistically that turmeric is finally the magic bullet that will end the years of pain, scarring, embarrassment, smelly discharge and useless/expensive trips to doctors, who nearly always say that I should be glad it is "down there" and not on a visible part of my body. I always have been glad for that but somehow their words lack true sympathy for the debilitating nature of the disease.

So, last evening, after reading posts regarding turmeric helping combat/cure hidradenitis I ran out and bought turmeric from Walgreens. The pills are 950mg with pepper as a buffer (I guess). I took two pills last night and then made a salve from another pill mixed with neosporin and applied it to the boil (with sinus tract) on my groin. I have had this particular oozing, painful boil at this location for about 10 months. It started to tract about 2 months ago. This morning I took another 950mg pill, a second around noon and a third around 6PM. I'll let you know how the treatment works out after a week."

11/05/2008: Shelly from Toronto, Ontario, Canada replies: "I'm curious if anyone has mentioned botox injections at the groin area for you. it has been a life saver for a few people i know. i know it can be expensive, but you can look into health care coverage, i would rather be out of pocket,than to live through that pain and i totaly sympathize with you i've been there too."

05/10/2009: JOane from Newcastle, England replies: "Hi my name is joanne and since i was diagnosed with HS a few months ago (had symptoms for 20 yr), I like many are trying to find what works best for us. Ive heard that tumeric powder is more effective than capsules, although it does taste a bit "funky"."

11/17/2009: Renee from Atlanta, Georgia, USA replies: "I'm writing more so because my daughter who is now 25 years old has had HS since she was 12, at which time I authorized surgery to remove sweat glands from under her arm pits. That worked for a few years actually; however, over the past few years, she's had really bad outbreaks in her groin area and it is also regenerated under her armpits. She gets depressed more often lately and I feel so helpless. She has two young children, 4 years and 5 months old, works a full-time job, and is completing her Bachelor's degree on line. She's a wonderful young lady. I try to help in every possible way that I can, by dressing and bathing the children, feeding them, buying her dressings for her sores, planning events to keep her mind occupied and to keep her happy. I feel for all of you because I have seen the debilatating effect of this disease. I have faith in God and I trust him and believe that he will heal her. In the meantime, I'm looking for a way to help her to live through this both physically and psychologically. We're going to try Tumeric and she's trying to get her weight back down after having the baby. Although her children's father seems to really care a lot about her, I think she would do better than him if she didn't have this condition and had more confidence in her appearance. I finally got her to go to counseling one time and she invited me to participate. For a long time, I thought she was dealing really well in accepting and dealing with the condition. I found out in the session that she's been hiding her real feeling. Everything I thought she must be feeling as a young lady, she was feeling. I'm going to keep trying to make her feel comfortable and deal with things one day at a time. I'll keep looking and taking her to every doctor and clinic I can until we find a cure. I won't give up and don't you give up either!"

11/18/2009: Ellen from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada replies: "You may find some relief if you apply coconut oil to the affected area and then apply 1 drop of oil of oregano. The oregano will help allieviate the pain for a while and both oils are very healing and are antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic."

11/18/2009: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, USA replies: "Hi Renee,

I just read your post and felt I had to write. I'm glad your daughter has you to help her. I can hear your sincerity in your desire to help her. I understand because I have a son who is 24, daughter 23 and son 21. (Two more much younger.) When they get older it can be hard because they are "adults" and you have to respect them and yet you want so much to help them too. Anyway, my heart goes out to both of you. The reason I'm writing is because even though I've posted several times about the mini beet protocol, it has led me into a vast storehouse of amazing information from the raw food world and superfood world. I would urge you to look into this as I have seen miraculous things and testimonies from people who were hopeless and turned their lives around. It is full of inspiration which you need right now. Try to find my posts as I talk about it in them. See if you can start by juicing and getting fresh raw vegetables into your diet. That would be a good start. Remember too, the doctors don't have the answers to the healing process. Their knowledge is in drugs and surgery. We must all start taking our bodies back and finding the true answers. You say you have faith in God- well, guess what, God has given us so many ways to be healthy and stay that way from plants and herbs found on our planet. Go on youtube and find David Wolfe and Daniel Vitalis which will then lead you to other very inspiring people- Hulda Clark, Angela Stokes, Gabriel Cousens and more that will turn what we have been told on its head! There is hope, there are answers just do the research- it's all at our fingertips with the internet. I wish you the very best and my thoughts are with you. I have faith that with this knowledge, you could turn all of this around. Lisa"

11/03/2008: Liz from Monticello, MN writes: "Sufferer of HS

I had my first lesion when I was 19, did not know what it was at the time, I am now 43. I was free of flare ups until I was 35, when I gained weight with my pregnancy. Since then, it has been a nightmare. I completely relate to all of you on this sight. Short version...my doctor sent me to a derm. he said it was HS..sorry can't help you, but you can take accutane! NOT!! So leaving there empty-handed and no idea what to do..I learned on my own..to live with it. The pain is unbearable, embarrassing, and completely gross! Mine started on my thighs and groin and have seem to have found their home on armpits. Oh, when I showed the derm. my boils and scars, he asked me if I had any on my armpits, I said no and he said "You will"..gee thanks.Well, he was right about one thing! So, now I have done my own wear and tear on the darn things and they have torn me up worse. I am a firm believer in Dial soap but that is the only preventive measures I ever knew about until now. I tried antibiotics, turns out I am allergic to most of them, great! Band aids..allergic to latex, too. My Dr. once told me, "Boy, did God ever give you a body to deal with".Ya think. She actually lanced one when I was having my daughter. She said not to say anything, I guess it was freebie. Well, I am sure looking forward to trying any and all of the remedies you all have mentioned on this sight. I just don't know where to start and with what doses or mixtures. Can anyone give specifics on this? I also noticed that they seem to flare with PMS, the only problem there is being premenopausal and getting my period every two weeks does not give enough time to heal between outbreaks...What else, huh? So, please, anybody...HELP!!"

05/10/2009: Joanne from Newcastle, England replies: "Hi i have heard that the contraceptive dianette which is also used for acne can help with HS. I read today that contraception that stops you from menstruating altogether is also effective. i too seem to have a flare up just before my period. also there is a link between HS and prolonged bleeding during menstruation which i find true in my case too. i wonder if this is how it is for others. good luck"

10/30/2008: Devina from Kanpur, India writes: "hi iam 24 years old and have been suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa since i was almst 18 years old. just got diagnosed about a month ago after going through one horrible surgery and getting the sweat gland under my right armpit removed. i do get the lesions at various places in my body but they are fare less than what i used to few years back.its not so painful now as maybe one gets used to the pain..but i agree it can be very embarassing specially the scarring..and dont feel like getting into any intimate relationships..with anyone..and talking about your condition with other people.

thankfully i met a dermatologist..he did diagnose me though i researched on it over the internet my doctor confirmed it was hidradenitis. he gave me certain antibiotics for a week and now iam on these pills for 3 months called sotret..supossed to shrink the sebacious glands.have been given an anti-bacto soap to bathe.since i sweat a lot a form one armpit as the other sweat gland is gone..it even omits a really bad odour.my doctor has a recommended a lotion called the no swet lotion which gradually decreases..the sweat production.

i have been taking this medicine sotret which is also called isotreniton for about a month now and i think it has started to work.real progress only happens after you have stopped with the medicines..condition improves even after that.

i used to be very overwieght at one point of time.i have lost a lot of weight and i realised it makes a major difference..while suffering from this disease however loosing weight can be quite a challenge with this disease and the lesions always flare up with the heat created by excercise.

dont know why god created this disease..but when i read about other peoples sufferings i know i am not the only one and there are people with far worse..cases."

10/23/2008: Talija from WILKES BARRE, PA writes: "I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA SINCE MY EARLY TEENAGE YEARS, I WISH IT WOULD JUST GO AWAY. I AM 24YRS NOW AND HATE MY BODY. DOES ANYONE ELSE EVER FEEL THIS WAY. I FEEL AS IF I WERE ROBBED OF MY OWN LIFE. IF ONLY THERE WERE SOME MAGICAL PILL THAT YOU COULD TAKE ONCE AND YOUR LIFE WOULD BECOME NORMAL. I HAVE THREE KIDS (GIRLS) WHOM I HOPE THAT ONE DAY WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP FOR OVER SIX YEARS AND STILL FEEL DISGUSTING ABOUT MYSELF WHEN AROUND HIM. ANY GOOD THOUGHTS."

04/18/2009: Beanie from Ontario, CA replies: "To Talija: I know exactly how you feel. Mine first started when I was 25, and was newly married (now divorced from this man, which has nothing to do with the HS). I am now 39 and still have major problems. When I was dating again in my early 30's, the idea of having a serious relationship, moreover, a meaningful sexual relationship was horrifying, because by that time, my inner thighs/groin area were horribly scarred, with pits and tunnels... I have been so fortunate that my new husband is very understanding and recognizes that this is a medical condition with poor prognosis (from a medical perspective, at least). He has gone to great lengths to help me remember that I am desirable, attractive, important, etc. regardless of this disfiguring condition near my most "intimate" parts. I have spent many nights crying and asking him why he is attracted to me since I am "broken." He giggles, then reassures me. His attitude is "well, it's not your fault, and you have little control over it, so we deal with it and go on," DESPITE the fact that this can seriously affect our sex life during flare-ups. Aside from this issue, I am a very confident person, which coupled with his support, allows me to remain feeling like a desirable, attractive, and non-disfigured woman. I hope this helps."

11/04/2009: Ravenblackwolf from Indianapolis, Indiana replies: "i have had this awful thing for a long time and never knew what it was until now. my doctor is useless and so is my husband. instead of supporting me he thinks it is kind of funny. i have to basically diagnose myself. i wish all of you luck and love. and i pray there is a way to stop this dreaded illness. blessed be."

10/06/2008: BRENDA-LEE BLACK from SPRING VALLEY, CALIFORNIA writes: "WONDERFUL WEBSITE: I AM AN HS SUFFERER FOR 10 YEARS NOW, DIAGNOSED FOR 6 YEARS. I HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN TO ALOT OF DOCTORS BUT THE ONES I HAVE BEEN TO HAVE NOT REALLY HELPED. I OFTEN USE CEPHALEXIN CAPSULES. THEY HELP WITH THE ODOR WHILE TAKING THEM AND FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS AFTER THEY ARE DONE. ALSO IT KEEPS THE PAIN AND SWELLING DOWN BUT NOT FULLY. I WILL DEFINITELY TRY SOME OF THE HOMEMADE INEXPENSIVE STUFF I FOUND ON THE LINK. I AM QUITE FRANKLY TIRED OF IT."

TANNING BEDS

1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  05/12/2009: Ana from Las Vegas, NV writes: "I have tried several possible remedies for HS if anyone has read my previous post; none of which have worked. Good news! In an earlier post someone spoke of getting as much sunlight to the affected area as possible. Well for those of us with HS of the groin, that's kind of hard to do, so I improvised. I go to the tanning salon! Works great. The sores are drying up and the heat is very soothing to the area. Of course I don't use any lotions on the affected skin but if you time the tanning session just right you won't burn or damage the skin. Obviously if you're prone to burning in the sun I would not recommend using a tanning bed, but for those of us who don't burn, it's a God send. I've only been going for about a month and I already have noticed a significant change in the number of sores and drainage. I'm praying it will continue to work and I may not have to have surgery!"

TEA TREE OIL

2 YEA

[YEA]  12/28/2007: Tina from Indianapolis, IN writes: "I was Diagnosed with hidradenitis July 06. I have had terrible breakouts in the groin area from my bikini area to my anal area. I have tried everything to stop the breakouts, even bathing 3 or more times a day nothing has worked. Recently I went to a local natural food store and read a natural remedy book were it stated Tea Tree oil, pure tea tree oil will take out the staph from boils and soothe the pain. I tried it several times so far so good. It has a scent of eucalyptus and the same drying action like alcohol. So far it works"

01/04/2009: T3 from Chicago, IL replies: "I will try this. My cysts go on for 20 years all over and each has a different name and none have a cure. I either have to wait til it comes to a point (huge then) so dr. can cut it or it busts by itself and is a bloody mess. Not to mention the pain. I had 3 in my breast all come to a point at once after a mamorgram, which never showed them, but the ultrasound did. So for any of these cysts, I need answers, deoderant, shaver, soaps all been tried and no relief. No insurance now and when they come I'm on my own. Few times dr. wouldn't even open it and drain it, so pain, pain to my toes on the side of the cyst. I looked bruised or blackened on the ones that have reawaken lately. Antibiotic is hard to get, the dr's don't believe it helps me, but one did, plus I said they make me exremely nausaus and they said it was all in my head. I told them they're crazy,i get so much pain and it gets so big, i can't go to work, what more proof you need? I get so sick to my stomach, headeaches, radiation of pain on the entire side and can't move sometimes. Just need some help. Apple cider baths did not help, baking soda relieved pain, but stung the other unopened one and bactraban seemed the best, but is a prescription, and may eventually flair up anyway til it needs to break. They all do this and I can't take it anymore. Even my clothes are getting ruined. I had some removed and they come back 1/2 inch from the last one. Like I'm 1 big cyst with a head on top. Let you know if tea tree oil helps. Also tried the diet thing too, over 20 years of this, one thing right dr.'s say, NO CURE. Cut, cut, drain, scar, scar, cut, cut. Been there don't that. I was only 19 then. I can cry/I do."

03/17/2009: Evelyn from Brevard, NC replies: "Hi, I had HS for 25 yrs or more. Didn't have name for it until 8 yrs ago. Try many different things, nothing work. I use dial (bar) anti-septic soap but sometimes in the summer, I use liquid soap and mix with tea tree oil. It cheaper than buy it at the health food stoe. The only thing I found to help with the pain is Emla, it a cream I get from my doctor, it has lidocaine & prilocaine. It come in genertic, also. Use it only on my real ones. Help to numb the pain some! Also use a Draw Out Salve to help bring it to surface. It main ingredent is green soap. Hope these suggestions might help! Ev."

[YEA]  03/24/2009: Sonia from Christchurch, New Zealand replies: "Since I started using Tea tree Oil I have not had many problems at all. Prior to this I had new lesions coming up all the time one after the other."

TOOTH ABCESS LINK TO H.S.

1 YEA

[YEA]  11/07/2009: Asd from Houston, Texas writes: "Doctor informed me I had hidradenitis supperativa. Symptoms included boils and inflamed lymph nodes. Alternative effective treatments included daily high doses of Vitamins C, E, zinc, mucinex. New information and treatment described below has lead to cessation of symptoms.

Recently received root canal re-treatment and discovered abscess into bone tissue. No longer experience hidradenitis superativa symptoms. Taking Vitamin D and Calcium to support bone restoration, which also appears to be reducing the appearance of scars on skin. Bone damage was not visible on x-rays."

TURMERIC

20 YEA
1 NAY
3 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
1 SIDE EFFECT
1 QUESTION

[NAY]  10/12/2009: Sanhaber from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil writes: "I suffer with HS for 20 years. My disese is on stage III, with fistulas. Someone with fistulas take turmeric. What are the results? I am taking for 20 days, pills 450mg dayly, and few no iprovement yet."

EC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fistula

In medicine, a fistula (pl. fistulas or fistulae) is an abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect. It is generally a disease condition, but a fistula may be surgically created for therapeutic reasons.

The 3 Stages of Hidradenitis Suppurativa:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidradenitis_suppurativa

HS presents itself in three stages.[2][9]

Stage Characteristics
I Solitary or multiple isolated abscess formation without scarring or sinus tracts. (A few minor sites with rare inflammation; may be mistaken for acne.)

II Recurrent abscesses, single or multiple widely separated lesions, with sinus tract formation. (Frequent inflammations restrict movement and may require minor surgery such as incision and drainage.)

III Diffuse or broad involvement across a regional area with multiple interconnected sinus tracts and abscesses. (Inflammation of sites to the size of golf balls, or sometimes baseballs; scarring develops, including subcutaneous tracts of infection - see fistula. Obviously, patients at this stage may be unable to function.)

09/13/2009: Kygirl from Owensboro, Ky writes: "I dont have a cure as of yet, but I am trying Turmeric about 2000 to 2500 mg a day, plus curcumin 500 mg for my back pain another prob i have and tea tree oil mixed with peppermint oil, and thieves oil. I have Hashimotos disease which is diseas of the thyroid. It is a autoimmune disease, I think this is part of my problem. Since the glands in the groin area are part of the lymphatic system and is suppose to excrete bad things, my body is overworked by my thyroid thinking there is an affection when actually I dont have one but antibodies in my body think there is one, if this makes since. People should do more studies about the Lymphatic and Endocrine system. Now, This outbreak has been worse than others in the past. I just noticed tonight as I am changing clothes for bed that I have a new boil that has broken out lateral to the one Im trying to heal! This is heart breakening, Im scared of the outcome for the future. I feel as though I may need the surgery and if it takes ripping out the glands that are clod causing this prob then Im all for this. I dont want to worry about how Im going to fix this problem every 4 to 6 months as well as it being uncomfortable wearing my favorite pair of jeans. I went to my gynocologist and he told me not to worry about it, that it would go away, this was two years ago. Meanwhile I have seen a dermatologist and they said that this was a gynocologist issue. My family physician did make a local incision and cut out the top layer of the infected skin and stitching up. It came back within in 3 months time. I am depressed every time this happens I feel my heart sink. Ive researched and found that the stitching after the excision might not be the best ideal. They say it needs to heal from the inside out and to leave it open with out stitches. I havent completely cut out artificial sugar, coffee, caffeine products. I dont drink cokes but maybe once a week or so, and I drink coffee everyday first thing in the morning. I love to workout, cardio and lifting weights, Im not over weight like some sites suggest may be a problem. I recently this year have had alot of trauma to my body though from back problems to surgery on my thyroid to remove two nodules as well a part of my thyroid. This is saturday night and I am definitely going to my physican monday after noticing this second boil. If anyone has any good suggestions please notify me at fitpta08@yahoo.com. This hasnt been as bad as other peoples posting Ive read, but anything in the groin area is painful i dont care what. I think I would rather have Herpies simplex than to have this problem, I DONT HAVE THIS BY THE WAY, BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN TAKE A PILL THAT CONTROLS THE OUTBREAKS!!!"

09/01/2009: Laverne from Queens, New York writes: "Thank you for the Tumeric information I will use it. I have just had my 5th surgery for this HS condition and each time I endure the knife my recovery time is considerably longer, I wonder if my advancing age has a role.

However, I will try the Tumeric, I have tried Hibicleans, Anti bacterial soap, natural deodarant and a host of other options, I will try this and let you know."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  08/03/2009: Candace from Fort Bragg, Nc writes: "I have been suffering from HS for 13 years. I have had 5 surgeries in the groin area and 11 surgeries on my tail bone due to pilonidal cyst (almost the same thing as HS, just different location). I found this site today and I went out and bought some Turmeric just to see if it works. I took 1 tablet so far and the pain went away. I also bought some of the kind thats in the spice form and "rubbed" that one my groin and I still feel no pain. I cant wait to see what happens in a week!! I am very excited. Thank you to all the people who have commented on this site and have given suggestions."

[YEA]  07/17/2009: Lindsey from Seattle, WA writes: "I started taking about 1600-2000mg of Turmeric a day for my HS and within two days it started to disappear! It DOES work, but the negative side effect is that no matter what I do and how often I shower.. I REEK of curry. My sweat smells like an Indian restaurant... any suggestions for this?"

07/25/2009: Cheris from Queens, NY replies: "I've had HS for the last 28 years in my groin, 9 years ago I had my sweat glands removed under both arms. The plastic surgent was fuly aware of HS and I have not had an outbreak under the arms since. I used to see a dermatologist who did cortosone injections into my groin and they would always go down after but then return. I also use hibiclens as a wash and benzaclin as a topical cream. This seemed to work for a while until my doctor left the practice and the benzaclin ran out. Now I am having the most painful outbreak in my groin then I've ever had before. I'm contemplating seeing the same surgent to remove the track but its extensive. My brothers also have HS and have breakouts on their face and head. My older brother is on tumeric but his are still occuring. I wonder how much tumeric I need to take and how often."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  07/13/2009: icybluedge from Columbus, Ohio writes: "I have not been diagnosed with HS but from pictures it sure looks like it. It started around my waist when I gained weight about 4 years ago (sweat). I get a lot of boils but if you use tumeric powder they will drain rapidly. My recipe is to use the regular tumeric powder one gets from an India type grocery--very cheap. Then depending on the size of the boil I mix a teaspon of tumeric with a tumeric based cream I found and make a paste. Put some of this on a bandaid and then put over the boil. It will drain the boil within a very short period of time. Instead of the turmeric cream I have also used neosporin with just as good results. The turmeric cream is also cheap---so for about 12 dollars you can eliminate these boils. I would be very surprised if it doesn't work for you.You can then redress the boil to drain it further and when totally drained you are done with the turmeric.

I also recently started taking turmeric internally by mixing a couple of teaspoons with about 6-8 ounces of tomato juice, some pepper and sometimes cayenne and lemon. Much more palitable that way. I am not sure yet if it is decreasing the boil outbreaks but the topical therapy once a boil starts really does the trick."

[YEA]  05/07/2009: Matthew from Lincoln, NE writes: "Good morning,

My wife suffers from HS. She has had multiple surgeries to remove large sections of her arm pits and was having constant large boils that required medical lancing to relive the pressure and pain. I read about Tumeric and using a natural based deoderant. She was skeptical at first but after my insisting she started taking the tumeric. I believe it was about 500-600mg twice a day. In addition, she started using the Natural Deoderant, and in about 2 weeks her golf ball sized inflammation was completely gone. She had the start of 3-4 more boils that had the potential to be just as large and all were gone.

Since the surgeries, my wife would have at least 2 to 3 open sores under her arms at any given time, they would just never heal. Since taking tumeric and switching to the natural deoderant they have completely healed. My wife can not remember a time when her arm pits were this clear, she is currently in complete remission of HS and able to live pain free. (And, as anyone with HS will tell you, the smell from open wounds is not that pleasent either)

I normally don't write into websites like this, but I had to spread the word about Tumeric. I don't understand what it does, but it seems to work to counteract HS from what I have read.

Thanks,
Matt"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/25/2009: Jhanalyn from Greensboro, NC writes: "I have just founf this website (thank goodness because I was running out of the pills that were prescribed to me by my doctor and I no longerhave any health insurance to get more) I just started the Tumeric yesterday. So far everytime I take it my groin area where I have the biggest problem right now starts to burn so bad and I cant move. IS this suppposed to happen is this natural. Also I have a question about taking the powder tumeric in a capsule how much a day works the best or can you take as much as you like. I really appreciate this site with some new inforamtion because I was getting to the point where I Was just goign to give up."

06/29/2009: Zulfikar from Atlanta , GA replies: "The Turmeric works take 3 tabs in the am and 3 tabs in the eve for a mth them make it 2 tabs 2 times a day."

[YEA]  04/25/2009: Jessica from Detroit, MI writes: "I have been taking Turmeric powder for about a week now to treat my H.S. It has been fabulous!!! It's also clearing my acne as well. The taste may take a little getting used to but it's all worth it. I take 1 tsp three times a day with 1/4 cup of warm water."

03/30/2009: Sophie from Shasta, California writes: "Regarding hidradenitis suppurativa, I am now trying the turmeric at two 400mg tablets a day, and one 300mg capsule a day. I am hopeful, and appreciate this site very much. My thought with using the capsule at least once a day is that perhaps it is absorbed better. The health food store folks say that it's not possible to determine how much turmeric is in the powder, so I'm going to do some research on this. I have also been applying "medical" grade honey to the groin area. I do this early in the morning, cover the area with a towel, and go back to bed for an hour. The honey allows for the area to drain. This is a challenge indeed, and I wear cloths in the groin area and change them throughout the day."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  03/08/2009: Bobbie from Locust Grove, Ga writes: "H.S. Wow, I came on here looking for answers because the Dr's sure don't have any. I used the turmeric and it really worked, it worked so well that I didn't have ANY bumps and I forgot to take the turmeric for a couple of days...... I paid for that, I got 6 bumps. I'm back on the Turmeric and they went away, so I know for sure it works, now I'm just waiting on something to cure it for good."

[YEA]  03/07/2009: Leila from Amsterdam, The Netherlands writes: "First, let me tell you that this site has become one of my favourites and has helped me get back in touch with my affinity for folk remedies. Thank you for that!

Yesterday evening, I tried the Turmeric Tea recipe that Anna from Union County, NJ, shared. It tasted so much better than I thought it would, it's actually delicious! I like drinking warm milk before bedtime :D
More importantly, only one large cup of this tea already reduced a boil in my armpit to half its size overnight. It also doesn't hurt any longer. I stopped using commercial deodorants about a year ago, because I kept getting awful boils under my armpits and suspected the aluminium in deodorant to cause these. Used green clay compresses, but they only work temporarily and the boils kept returning. I also get boils on my breasts - horribly painful and embarrassing.

I'm absolutely amazed at how quickly the Turmeric had an effect! Thank you, Anna, and thank you, EC!"

EC: Anna's Recipe:

09/06/2007: Anna from Union County, NJ writes: "Turmeric truly is the cure for boils. I have been struggling with boils for over 10 years! I have been to countless doctors and dermatologists for this embarrassing and painful ailment to no avail. I stumbled upon this website and tried it. When I saw a huge difference in 48 hours, I cried. Thank You.

Here is a turmeric tea recipe that is truly delicious, from Yogi Bhajan, founder of the Yogi Tea brand INGREDIENTS:

* 1 tsp turmeric powder
* 4 cups water
* 1 cup milk (soy or dairy)
* 2 tbsp almond oil
* liquid sweetener, to taste, optional (honey, agave, maple syrup)

PREPARATION:
Bring water to a boil and add turmeric. Allow to simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring to make sure the turmeric is fully dissolved. Reduce heat, add milk and oil and stir well. Add sweetener if desired and enjoy!

This just shows how we should look to Mother Earth a little more often instead running to a physician.

Also, instead of using Neosporin on those nasty things, a little manuka honey and vitamin E salve goes a long way."

07/20/2009: Lisa from St Albert, Alberta, Canada replies: "Question on the turmeric tea recipe - it states 4 c of water plus 1 c of milk, but others recommend 1 tsp per c of water. Would the tea have too low of Turmeric? Also, can it be stored as it makes 5 cups of liquid? I've been battling HS from before my daughter was born (2 years ago), but since I got pregnant my HS has gone into hyperdrive."

[QUESTION]  01/15/2009: Ashey from San Diego, CA writes: "I have read all of your comments and I would like ask if any of you have another suggestion as to how to take the turmeric. I purchased a powered form from the local grocery store. The first cup I mixed with just warm tap water. I managed to get down about half. My second two cups I have mixed in to a cup of black tea with honey. This makes it a little better for me but I am still only able to get down about half to three quarters of the mixture. I have tried the dial soap and have a great result so far.

I was just diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa in December of 2008. I am 24 years old and have had some minor sores under my arms before but the sores that got me my diagnosis are quite painful and to be honest, they are just plain gross to me.

I would love any other suggestions to help with the open sores as well."

EC: People have reported buying gelatin capsules (quite cheap, apparently) and putting the turmeric powder into the capsules.

Here are additional turmeric recipes from our Boils page: http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/boils6.html#TURMERICRECIPES

09/18/2009: Lita209 from Sanford, Fl, USA replies: "Do you know where to get the capsules that you can fill with turmeric??? Thanks!"

EC: Searching "Clear Gelatin Capsules" will bring you some vendor ideas:
http://www.google.com/products?q=Clear+Gelatin+Capsules&hl=en&aq=f

09/19/2009: Julie from Ellwood City, Pa replies: "I buy my tumeric already prepared in capsules, 500mg per capsule. Is it cheaper to buy the capsules and take the time to fill them at home?"

EC: Lots cheaper!!!

09/28/2009: Lwhit from Knoxville, Tn, USA replies: "I have been suffering from HS for a long time and had no idea what was wrong with me. I grow up seeing my mom with band aid in her arm pit and under her breast... She would always say how painful it was... Then i started to break out in the groin area as a teenager... and it wasnt that bad until i had my second child and gained weight...like 55 pounds...thats when i started to break out under my armpit... but it is just hard balls under the skin that just seem to be sore when i wear any kind of shirts... I even had a really big one on the inside of my thigh and being 8 months pregnant i could see what was going on down there and i was so painful i would cry... when i was walking strange i blamed it on the pregnancy... but im so sick of the break outs... im going to try to use Turmeric and honey... and see if that works... I know that my stage of HS isnt as bad as some of the others on this website but its is really getting to me with all the scars and pain... then pus comes out of no where, its really gross.... this website has really made me feel like there is some kind of light in the dark tunnel that i thought i was in alone...If it works i will let everyone know what worked for me and hope that helps someone else..."

[YEA]  12/06/2008: Ann from Hartford, CT writes: "HS and pregnancy:

I'm so glad to have found this site. This disease can make you feel so alone. But I am lucky to have supportive people in my life. I have had HS on my groin for 10 years. I was on spirolactone 10mg 2x aday for the last 4 years and had surgery 2 years ago. Things were in check until I decided to go off the meds to try to have a baby. 7 months later and I have the worse and the most painful outbreak ever and never did get pregnant. The doctor gave me antibotics and the lump went down but not alot. My lumps do not usually burst and drain. I try to get some fluid out but I barely got any this time. The fluid seems buried under the skin. I want to try the tumeric remedy but I need to know if it is safe to take while still trying to conceive. Thanks for the advice."

EC: Turmeric contraindications here: http://www.herballegacy.com/Alter_Contra.html.

10/29/2008: Christy from Sydney, Australia writes: "Like most people on this forum, I have had the boils/lesions for over 10 years. They were originally located on my left groin, but now they have arrived on the right hand side as well.

After years of doing the rounds of the doctors - like so many people here - and trying many courses of anti-biotics (no, they don't work) I was referred to a gynaecologist by my GP. Big mistake! This isn't a "female" disorder, it's a skin disorder!

Anyway, I had surgery in July '08 to remove the lesions from both sides, and because they didn't realise I had HS, they only cut out the smallest amount and, yes, it returned - worse even - on both sides.

I have since found another surgeon who wants the infection to go away before he operates so he put me on a double-dose of strong anti-biotics. They aren't really working either and I've been on them for six weeks! So does that mean if the infections never goes away and he never is able to operate I'll be stuck with this forever? That is a terrifying thought. :(

On reading that some people have had luck with turmeric I ran out and got a jar of capsules. $60! A small price to pay if they work. Also, after hearing people recommend tea tree oil, I have bought some tea tree oil gel and hopefully that will improve things as well.

I hope and pray we all can resolve this horrible condition once and for all."

09/13/2009: Fitpta08 from Owensboro, Ky replies: "Christy, Im sorry to hear about your situation. I have this as well. Was wondering though why you had to pay 60 dollars for a bottle of Turmeric? Here in Ky at the vitamin store for more of the organic foods and better vitamins I pay 16 for a bottle of 120 vegetable capsules 500mg."

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