Top Remedies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Tips from a girl who has had HS for 8+ years

I started having symptoms of HS when I was around the age of 14 but I didn't realize what I had until I was around 20 years old. Once I discovered my extremely painful boils weren't a result of a lack of hygiene, I started the long road of looking for a cure or a way to manage them. A doctor gave me spironolactone and although it worked great, I didn't want to be on a medication like that long term so I started looking for natural remedies...which is when I found this site! It helped me so much I thought I would share some tips of my own. First, I only have HS in my groin (panty-line) and bottom area, so not in my armpits (thank God! ). Things I do that have helped A LOT:

--Washing the affected area once a day with hibiclens (OTC anti-bacterial soap). It was recommended by a doctor and I have found that when I skip a day, I regret it!

--Washing the affected area after working out or getting the area sweaty is a MUST! And I mean right after. I tend to sweat a lot around my panty-line and when I don't follow this regimen, again, I regret it! I usually schedule my daily skin-shower around when I work out so that helps.

--I didn't use tampons until I read posts on this page of women recommending it. I couldn't agree more that if you have HS you should exclusively use tampons. They are a life saver. I used to get the worst flares during my cycle and now barely at all! Moisture and a lack of airflow are huge no-no's with HS, so you can see why pads are terrible for you.

--Wear underwear/briefs that are a size too big. I know that sounds weird, but ANY pressure on the skin in my groin area (the hem line of underwear) would cause the worst inflammation which would lead to the boils. This was honestly one of the easiest ways to manage my problem. I also stopped wearing shorts/pants to bed to give the area more airflow (so less sweat).

--Like the above tip, do not wear tight swim bottoms! I now wear a tankini (I used to wear a one-piece) so that I can wear looser swim-shorts. Beforehand, I would literally have same-day inflammation from wearing a swimsuit that hugged that panty/hemline!

--Another reason I wear swim shorts is so that I don't have to shave my legs so high! I would get a lot worst inner thigh flare ups from shaving, so I stopped doing so as frequently. I have considered laser hair removal but have yet to try it.

--The right kind of shorts (and pants! ) is really important and is probably the hardest to find. I don't wear jean shorts at all anymore (I miss them so much) because they were pinching and causing problems. This is a tip that you will have to figure out by trial and error, but just know that clothing makes a HUGE difference. Speaking of clothing, if you're at home on a cold day, loose shorts and a blanket are better than pants--remember, lack of pressure and airflow are everything.

--Unfortunately, I haven't found many ways to manage the bumps I get on my bum! I've found certain chairs/sitting positions cause bad flare ups, but I haven't found anything else to help so far.

--I have tried turmeric, and although I think it helps a little (I was eating it every day for a couple of months), it didn't help me enough to make me want to eat it every day (so gross when eating a teaspoon by itself). I've also tried tea tree oil and manuka honey which I didn't see much results with. BUT, I wasn't all that diligent in their application so that might have been my problem.

--Although I would not recommend spironolactone long term, I would recommend someone who has super-damaged skin from untreated HS to use it for a couple of months. After 6 years of damage (I literally have scars and had areas of my skin that were so damaged they were almost constantly in a state of being an open wound), the break spironolactone gave me was great. It allowed my skin to heal up and just calm down and I think the natural methods I'm using now work a lot better because I started from better skin.

I've been doing the above for around 2-3 years now and I can say that although I still suffer from HS, it is nowhere near as bad as when I didn't know what HS even was. Although there are some areas of my skin that are still pretty sensitive (only one area of super damaged skin near my panty line), there are other areas that used to flare up every couple of months that haven't bothered me in over two years! Hopefully, this helps you on your journey. And please don't get overwhelmed by the changes either! Just take one change/step at a time and hang in there!

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to post my experience with this awful condition disease, I didn't know why I was getting these painful boils in my buttocks that was my teen years I was so embarrassed I couldnt talk to anyone about it. I thought I had hemorrhoids, which was crazy to me, I used Neosporin and magically they went away fast forward to after graduation I got my first of many cyst on my lower back...I continue to get these painful cyst on my upper back as my husband as pointed out my scars are in the shape of my bra I guess I sweat in these areas.

When I was pregnant with my son who is now 8 yrs old, I was finally told of what I have and there's no cure, I've been on antibiotics which to me sometimes helps but if anything they can bring the cyst to a head and I drain it, it's a thick pus that comes out and blood...there's instant relief no more pain, no more pressure. But I don't want to take antibiotics my whole life. I do notice I get one around my cycle, I've have had one under my armpit which sent me to the ER...worst experience ever!! I remember screaming out in pain as it was landed. I've been told I'm a very attractive lady I was married before and now remarried my ex was very supportive of this condition, and my husband now is just as supportive if not more, but I will say this disease has made me feel so ugly, my back is completely scarred from years of cyst, I can't wear certain tops or clothes. I didn't have to deal with the cyst in the groin area until now. I have a peppermint size cyst near the buttocks area it's so painful Imy having trouble walking, I feel hopeless right now. This condition is no joke!! I thought It would be a deal breaker when I found myself single again and I needed to tell my NOW husband what I was diagnosed with.

I truly believe it's connected to my hormones and that can be connected to my diet. I really just have to make some changes in my diet...I will be more disciplined with my apple cider vinegar drinking and really taking all night shade veggies out my diet, I will diligently take my turmeric no more alcohol no sugar or caffeine use my tea tree oil and buy organic protein and fruit and veggies no more gluten...I'm so (*beepin*) sick of this (*beep*) condition oh I plan on getting some zinc today. God please help us all who suffer...I really wanted to vent! I'm 37 and this has been going on since I was 17.

I see a lot people that say a remedy worked for HS disease. I have used tea oil an turmeric and it has not helped. I see lot people say they have HS disease but do they really? There is a difference between boils an abscess an HS. One is not cured an comes back. I am just tryin to find out more info on the HS disease. I've had no luck really with antibiotics either. I have two holes in my armpits, my butt an groin.

I wanted to drop by and share my experience with anyone who is suffering with HS as I have for 30 years. I've tried just about every one of these treatments, all of which may have given me some relief, but I was still losing the battle. I consulted a friend of mine who has researched skin treatments thoroughly and he told me to go out and get Lysine. It's an amino acid and can be found at any good health food store. By his recommendations, I took 1000 mg twice a day for the first month. I could not believe the difference in just the first week. At the end of the month, I cut back to 500 mg twice a day and I only increase it if I feel like one is coming on. My friend told me that it had to do with two amino acids that need to be balanced in the body. I really don't care how it works, what I am ecstatic about is that it works! I wanted to share this with this group in hopes of helping as many who suffer from this condition as I know how painful and embarrassing it is. I'm not saying that this is a cure for anything, just that it was something that I tried that had amazing results for me. I hope it works for you!

My daughter is Down Syndrome and has had hidradenitis suppurativa since she started puberty. I had the usual doctors misdiagnosis this and one day I happen to mention it to a friend who was very knowledgable with herbs. I described what the condition looked like and he said it sounded like HS. He made a solution for me apply twice daily that contained collodial silver. The solution did wonders for the condition. She would still break out but the skin would sluff of and it would open and drain and she had practically no pain. But the best part was it stopped the scarring. When I ran out I went back to get a refill and he couldn't give it to me because they had stopped supplying him the C. S. I never knew all the ingredients in the solution and he closed up shop after 5 years doing this. He said he couldn't make a living. If anyone has heard of this and know how I can get this product again I would be very glad to hear from you.

All the DS girls I know suffer with this awful condition.

I would just like to thank all of you out there for your courage and helpful remedies. I am a 26 yo female and like most of you I have suffered with this condition for many years. I suffered with this on my buttocks and inner thigh areas and I had so many areas that would drain all the time I was so embarrassed about it, it took a while to see medical attention. I finally was reffered to a plastic surgeon who would open each area ( about 13) and try to get to the base of the problem then use two different antibiotics on packing gauze to fill the lesions. As you can imagine this was very painful and the gauze had to be changed daily with similar appts happening every 4-6 weeks, yikes! After reading alot of the posts I decided to try taking Turmeric capsules ( or curcumin capsules, as I learned curcumin is the medinicinal ingredient in Tumeric) and only using anti bacterial soaps. I started last week taking 3 capsules per day and washing the areas 1-2 times daily, if you can believe it I am down to one area that is not healed, there is only drainage from one area (limited). I am so pleased how fast this has worked, and I am sooooooooooooooooooooo Thankful to all of you for finally helping me overcome this!!!! XO

Hidradenitis Suppurativa:

I cured mine with lemons and probiotics. Lemons take the pain away almost immediately and heals the bumps fast. Now I don't break out anymore. I'm guessing the lemon dries up the pores. But I can tell you how wonderful the lemons made the pain better. I tried all the medical stuff that didn't do anything. Good luck

Hi there,

Thanks for this post! I always attempt a natural cure before anything else and believe skin issues arise from a root cause from within. Interesting about the adrenals! Would you mind linking the capsule you tried?

Hidratinosis Supperativa is an auto-immune disease. What works for me is to use a 1 percent dilution of either Frankincense or Lemongrass in fractionated coconut oil. You can apply this to existing cysts 1-3 times a day and they will drain, then heal. Manuka essential oils is another good one, but I prefer the Frankincense as I must put this in delicate places.

Using a one-percent dilution (about 2-3 DROPS into 10 ml - 2 teaspoons) of fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil will allow you to use this continuously. You should continue to use it after the cyst has cleared to ensure all inflammation is gone. Oil of oregano can be used, but it is a HOT oil and you need to be careful around tender tissues. I would not use more than 2 DROPS of oil of oregano in 2 tsps carrier oil, but it IS effective.

Hi Laurie, great news that frankincense heals your HS sores. But if you are still getting these outbreaks, I suggest taking internally the boswellia serrata powder or capsules. Boswellia serrata is the tree from which frankincense essential oil is extracted. The resin internally has rather recently been studied and lauded for it's anti inflammatory benefits, with ibs, joints and auto immune diseases. Since you have proven it works for you topically, taken internally it may stop your outbreaks entirely. As always, research for yourself, I am merely cheering your good health. Best

I too use tea tree oil for HS. If I get a boil I simply drop 3 to 4 drops of tea tree oil on the pad of a large band aid and then adhere it to my skin over the boil. It has an immediate effect. I generally do this once a day after showering until its gone (2 or 3 days). Doing so helps prevent scaring as well.

I have been taking baking soda internally every morning with lemon juice, why this helps is because it balances the pH levels in your body. Infection can't thrive in a non acidic body, so this helps balance your pH and help the body become more alkaline. What doctors also MISDIAGNOSE about HS is the fact that a lot of times the staph bacteria is what turns HS from a minor issue to a debilitating condition. Ask your doctor to check for Staph and then if Doxycycline or Bactrim does not work, try the baking soda with lemon juice. I have tried everything under the sun and this is the only thing that works for me. It's not only hormones, it's an actual infection.

My 16 year old daughter a year ago got on the NEXPLANON birth control. That we think is been the same time she started to get boils. She gets them at last 1 a month. So big and bad that we have to take her to the E.R to have them drained and packed. We just learned of a name for her condition. I replied since I seen you are the one had a concern with birth control. They started on her lower back. 1 on her knee the rest under her arm pit. I have been searching since I finally got a name for this. Anyone heard of Emuaid Cream?

Try Lysine capsules. The seem to work for me. I take two 500mg capsules, twice a day during the time I'm having issues with my Hidradenitis Supperativa. And one 500gm capsule, twice a day when im not having issues. You can purchase them at a health food store.

Let me know if it helps.

I have suffered with HS since I had a surgery that put me into peri menopause 5 years ago. I have been taking Tumeric for prevention and it works somewhat - I recently read that Burdock Root (capsule form) is a blood cleanser and can help with detoxifying the skin. I have only been taking for a few weeks and have seen a vast improvement (although it does promote sweating). I also want to share that I get Magnesium gel caps, punch a hole in it and squeeze out the contents, I use this as a topical when the HS is red and inflamed - instant relief and reduces the lump overnight. It's messy but works - I have yet to find a topical magnesium cream. I do hope one day there will be a cure!

Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Has anyone tried taking a probiotic? I have HS and recently read an article about "leaky gut syndrome". Initially eliminated gluten from my diet and started taking zinc tablets, which I had success with (not 100%). However, it is not really an option to take zinc long term and I find complete elimination of gluten to be very difficult. I have consumed gluten multiple times through cross contamination, causing a reaction.

I recently (about 2 months ago) found an article about leaky gut syndrome and started taking a probiotic twice a day, which really seems to be helping! I have not had a breakout since and I even started adding small amounts of gluten back into my diet (i.e. soy sauce, beer, boneless breaded chicken wings, etc.)!! Not sure if it is a "cure", but it helped me and worth a shot- although I am still weary of pizza and pasta dishes. Probiotics are easily available and not expensive at all, so perhaps worth a shot?

Hi, I've suffered from HS for 15 years. I have tried turmeric and that has worked for me to a certain extent. But I wanted to share something that has worked for me and has transformed my life. If I ate my last meal of the day after 8pm you can guarantee that the next day I would have a flare up. And the later I ate the worse the flare up would be. Eating dinner/last meal of the day between 7-8pm has changed my life. Now for the last 3 years I have been ok, only having occasional flare ups when my body is extremely tired from overwork or I eat late when I don't have a choice. I hope this helps someone else too. Give it a try for a week and see if it helps. Good luck, I wish you well.