Top Remedies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Since I started puberty I've suffered with boils under my armpits and in my groin area.

I've gained significant weight over the last two years and this led to my armpits becoming much worse. I was at a point where I would have at least 5 boils at any one time around my armpit area.
Around 3 months ago I started to apply cold pressed coconut oil onto my armpit skin once or twice a week. I initially started because I'd heard it was anti bacterial and honestly I just wanted to take away some friction.

Within a week I noticed my armpits looked less angry, and I wasn't developing new boils as quickly as "normal". And within a month my boils were down to almost nothing. I'm still like that now. I'll get maybe one or two a month, my scarring seems to be fading too, and I have less than half the blackheads I had when I started.

For the first summer in a long time I can wear cami tops, and short sleeve dresses without being embarrassed.
I haven't tried the Apple Cider Vinegar but I'll defo give that a go when next I get a boil and will update.
I'd 100% recommend coconut oil to anyone. I know it probably won't work for everyone but for me it's been an absolute game changer!

Just an update to my prior comment. The high dose B12 (2,000 mcg) was keeping me up at night so I stopped it. I then switched to a B complex that had more than the 100 mcg from the one I had been using (400 mcg) and thankfully it was enough to maintain the therapeutic effect. I can still eat nightshades and other trigger foods without causing a flare. So play around with the dosage and find the one that is right for you. 100 mcg daily was not enough but the 400 mcg in my new B Complex was enough to keep the flare ups at bay.

Colloidal Silver cured my boyfriend from the same. The infection got antibiotic resistant. Colloidal Silver 2 TSP A DAY, morning and night. Milk of Magnesia mixed with a little Colloidal Silver to clean o

apply to the affected area. Wil be gone in a week but need to keep taking the CS for a little longer. The boils come back, but not like before, keep doing the same every time with or without boils and will kill the bacterias in the blood. My BF is 8 years boil free. CS kills antibiotics resistant bacterias. No side efects. Remember to apply the CS, Magnesia milk mix.

I must tell you my findings for HS. I have been taking a pro-biotic and now a pre-biotic which helps good bacteria grow in your gut. HS is a manifestation of your gut being off. Its not about hygiene, hormones or whatever the doctors want you to believe. They don't know. I'm telling you get a good probiotic take it 3 times a day if you are having issues with this terrible HS. I've cured myself. I decided it had to be something we all do. Antibiotics, for kids the elderly who never had HS, women, Men doing surgery which didn't help! UGG. Please get a probiotic that will start righting the very low good bacteria you have in your gut. It helps and a prebiotic is even better it helps proliferate the good bacteria and as it grows you have less HS. Don't take my word for it just start ingesting a good one. I am cured, and I live in a hot desert where I sweat. Nothing to do with HS just an easy way for the strep to get out.

Physician heal thyself. Take a responsible step to your own health. God Bless

I have had this HS disease for about 16 years including a pilonidal cyst .The pilonidal cyst was treated 5 yrs ago with some herbs from a herbalist.The hidradenitis superetiva has gotten 95 % better because of the use of the Avocado bark. Avocado leaves and bark are used to kill streplococous bacteria. I poured boiled water in a water jar rand put a small piece of bark, I always used fresh bark. After the mixture has cooled l drank it. I drank it five times a month during my period for about 3 mnths, mybe it might differ in people.

I hope someone will be healed by this too. I also tried turmeric but for me it made a little change. l also had one of the worst Hidradenitis suppurativa.If anyone wants to hear more just ask. Sorry for my English its a second language to me.

So this may be archaic but I found bandaid Tough Strips (not the fabric ones) are a godsend for me. They are waterproof and stay on through showering and sex. I have HS in my groin area and it is triggered by stress and hormones. I can not wear underwear on a regular basis or the friction will cause an abscess. This poses a problem during my periods because I need to wear underwear on at least 2 of the days and hope I do not get one. What I do is put one of those bandages over an existing abscess or budding abscess. It creates a barrier between my groin and the side of my leg so that when I walk there is no friction and I can stop limping. It doesn't hurt and if I leave it on long enough my body will reabsorb what is inside the abscess and it will go away on its own. This has taken up to a couple of weeks before, but that was when I was super stressed so it was trying to get worse not better anyway. Usually less than a week. If the bandage comes off for some reason I just put on another one. It has just been so helpful so I wanted to share.

I was experiencing a horrible auto immune condition called HS (Hidradenitis Supperativa). Very, very painful and debilitating.

I decided to try the borax protocol to attack the autoimmune condition. In six weeks all symptoms of my condition had disappeared and it is 10 months later and I continue to be healed. I now drink borax water once or twice a week. I drink 1/4 tsp in the liter of distilled water once or twice a week. I give 1/4 of the above mentioned dilution to both my children once or twice a week. My Mom has been drinking it daily for 9 months (after seeing my amazing results) due to a number of health afflictions, and has skin growing on her legs where she has had open wounds for 30 years from a recluse spider bite. My coworker drinks the above mentioned dilution daily and has had a significant reduction in her rheumatoid arthritis pain. In fact over the winter she was shocked to 'notice' she was barely hurting in her hands at all... I was desperate for answers when I tried this and I'm so glad I did.

Decide for yourself, trust your instincts. Good luck.

I have hidradenitis suppurtiva in my armpits for almost 3 years now. I was misdiagnosed initially and only recently I came to know my exact illness.

As per my experience, antibiotics are not much effective unless its when a flare up occurs and you want to reduce the inflammation. Also, if you do surgery you have to do it each time a flare up comes.

But, I have been dealing with it and now I have very less flare ups using the following:
- After bath, Use Povidone Iodine solution, the traditional brown colour liquid on your affected area to kill all the germs.
Let it dry so that it doesnt stain your clothes
- Use clindamycin gel on your affected area any time of the day or before sleep.

Do not miss any day.
Do not shave or wax.Try an alternative.
Try not to sweat too much.
Drink water.

I guarantee that you wont have a flare up :)
Good luck guys and stay strong!

p.s In case you get a flare up ever, use neosporin (bacitracin) powder on it for school/work since its a powder and the pus won't scar your clothes.

I truly feel for everyone in here. I have had HS (undiagnosed - but treated) for going on 15 year now (I'm 30). I guess that I'm a rarer case from the sounds of things, one being that I'm a guy, and two being that doxycycline actually worked for me. I have been on the med for a couple of years now and wash previously troubled areas daily with hibiclens soap and I have been boil free (for the most part) since I started the med.

From my experience... drinking alcohol makes things bad, as the alcohol in my system pushes the doxycycline out of my system and the disease comes back for 24 hours or so with a vengeance. I've also had success putting the hibiclens on troubled areas with a cotton ball during flare ups (don't wash off and re-apply when you feel the itch coming back), which somehow helps to prevent things from getting worse and spreading.

What brings me back to the online community after years of control is that my new insurance won't pay much for the doxycycline, making the drug $70 a month... I reluctantly paid for one more month of meds and received word today that I'm going to be switched over to Cephalexin going forward. Has anyone had success with docycycline and then made the switch over to cephalexin? I should mention that I've been on the doxy daily for going on 3 to 4 years now. However, I've been reading that the cephalexin cannot be taken daily due to its strength... I'd be very grateful for any feedback. Good luck everyone, here's to hoping that modern science and medicine will someday soon figure out a cure to this life-altering disease, which is surprisingly affecting a large part of the worlds population.

On that note, I also hope my experience will help someone out there who is struggling to find answers.

I started to get boils in both armpits after getting chikungunya virus from an infected mosquito bite.

I live in the tropics where the virus swept through last summer causing thousands of people to become ill.

This started September 2014, and has caused me terrible joint pain, styes, skin rash, and the boils. I bought some tea tree oil soap which has helped a lot, I bathe with it, rinse and dry thoroughly, then rub soap on the boils and dab on talc. They seem to be going now, still hard lumps but no pus. I also drink a tea made with fresh grated ginger and turmeric, you can use dried powder, cinnamon, honey and lime juice plus hot water. I have taken 4 types of antibiotics which did nothing, doctors seem disinterested and have offered no advice or medication. There is no cure or treatment for chikungunya virus, only painkillers, the effects can last for years, I had never heard of HS until I started researching the cause of boils/lesions in the armpit area. Hope there is a treatment soon for all the people suffering from HS.

I'm saddened to hear about what you are going through. I had a large wound in my left arm pit from 12/10/12 - 5/20/15. Antibodies didn't really help. I cut all high fruitrose corn syrup from my diet, and tried to just consume foods that weren't genetically modified. I try to only shop at trader joes & whole foods.

I read some place that oranges contain a vitamin that reduces inflammation. So I eat 3-4 daily. Within two months of these changes the wound that's was present for years is gone. I'm beyond thrilled. It's worth giving it a try. Miko

Cocoa butter helps with the appearance of scars. But as far as your future relationships, if he loves you for you, then the scars won't matter. Take the time to explain to him the condition and that, while annoying, is not something he needs to be worried about. When someone cares about you, they support you through the good and bad times.

Dear All who is suffering from this horrible disease Hidradenitis Suppurativa,

I have been facing this issue since last one year and doctors say we can not help in this case even they don't understand what is causing this disease. Two weeks ago I visited my dad and he told me one remedy and I came back and tried and trust me I was surprised. It's herbal Antibiotic which seems 1000 times more effective than medical stuff.

OK try this ...I am same like you, searched on google for whole year, tried many things but nothing worked but this thing which I am going to share here. Cures me 70 % in 10 days ..
I am sure you don't believe but try it and then inform me within two weeks..within 2 3 days you will be letting me know that it's killing the disease..

Here you go

1) fresh ginger 50 grams
2) fresh garlic 25 grams
3) mint leaves 50 gram (fresh)
4) pomegranate seeds 50 grams (dried one)

Put in a blender and make a sauce; now put in an air tight jar.

Dosage:: 1 tablespoon (full) after breakfast, 1 after lunch, 1 after dinner.(with water) ...OR you can put this paste on the Bread and eat it...

Please Please for one week don't eat fast food; you will sea the result which will amaze you.. Please guys share it with everyone .. May Allah cure everyone from all the diseases... Best Of Luck Waiting for your response...

This is my testimony on dealing with a partner who is suffering from HS. Very long but I just needed to write this. I hope someone will find it useful.

My boyfriend and I started dating 1 year ago, we actually did not date but met and started living together almost right away, it was love at first sight and we haven't been apart ever since. Once we first started, as with every relationship, hands all over the place, sex 5-6 times a day, it was crazy, we both work from home, so we spent pretty much every minute of every day together. He always told me how he loved my flawless skin and how amazed he was because of it, I never quite understood that, he also never took his shirt off, not even when the lights were off... I never made a big deal out of it, I just found it strange. Three months into the relationship we stopped having sex, completely, all of the sudden, I could feel he wanting but not trying to. Though I am a very communicative person, at first I never felt like asking him the reason why we stopped having sex, I just questioned myself all day all night, fell rejected, undesired, some days I thought I was being cheated on, some other days after visiting stupid internet forums thinking he was gay. This led to a lot of pain and anguish from my side, sleeping everyday with someone who kisses, caress and loves me, but has not intention of having sex. After three months I finally asked him what was going on and he told me he had a boil on his groin, alright I said, bought him medicines, stupid me trying to cure him. The boil went away, and although I didn't pressure him, the sex wasn't coming back. Six months after that, I told him I couldn't keep on and didn't want to be in a sexless relationship (lots of internet research led me to that conclusion, again with the stupid housewives forums), I wasn't in a rush, nor I was mad or desperate, I was just bored, I told him he could take the time to search for a new place. About a week after that I noticed a boil on his neck, he told me he was getting this boils since he was 17, he is 38 now.

When he first started getting them his parents took him everywhere, the conclusion was always severe acne, and the remedies all kinds of antibiotics or anti-acne treatments, he never got better so they told him he'd just have to live with that. When we met he was on remission (and had been for about a year) 3 months after that he got a boil, and then another, an then another, and then two at a time, and so on. I started reading about his symptoms and came across with the name Hidradenitis Suppurativa on a British Council document, I translated it and read it to him and he could relate 100% with it, I told him to go back to another dermatologist and asked for another diagnosis, he went and again they told him severe acne, and 7 months of accutane, which he has already taken before with nothing but bad side effects and no remission. I was mad, and sad, and started doing my own research, I found this forum, and after reading every single comment on HS Ailments I did my own treatment plan and asked him to give me a month for results.

We live in South America, so there is no such thing as a Food Allergy Test as far as I'm concerned. I am a very enthusiastic amateur baker, and I used to make him a 1 pound cake a week, he is a very enthusiastic amateur barista so he drinks about 3 or 4 cups coffee a day. He is about 150 pounds, not overweight at all, but I could see how our food intake might be affecting his condition.

We stopped eating wheat, sugar and coffee about a week ago, we also lower significantly our consumption of carbs such as potatoes, rice.

He started taking:

Turmeric - internal, one teaspoon a day with warm olive oil

Zinc - internal, one tablet a day

Calendula - internal, infused

Omega 3 - internal, one tablet a day

And using:

Tea tree oil - external

Hypoallergenic soap

We still can't tell if he is getting any results from what we are doing, I just hope he is, it is worth a try. If his life is better mine is a hundred times better. I don't want to see him living in pain, more so if he is trying to hide it from me. There are three more weeks to go, we'll see. He has being living with this disease for 20 years and as much as a part of him the condition is, I want to be with the man I met without it, in remission, enjoying physically and emotionally every second he spent with me.

Hopefully I would post a reply with positive feedback in a few days. Good night and good luck to all of you.

Colloidal Oatmeal as a symptomatic treatment for managing HS: Hi there, I am a 31 year old woman who has been suffering from HS for 17 years. I almost died from a drug resistant abscess on my right lung 21 years ago, I only survived because a lucky surgeon ripped my back open and removed the infected part of my lung. I am convinced that this lung abscess is connected to my HS. Anyway, you may want to try colloidal oatmeal as a symptomatic treatment. It's very effective at treating inflammation & has a soothing effect. You can either buy medical grade colloidal oatmeal (very expensive) or you can make your own by processing raw oats in your food processor (you need to get it to powder form, the finer the better). Put it in your bath or make a paste with purified water and apply as a skin masque or compress. As a bonus, it's also very effective against rosacea.

I had never heard that about Flaxseed oil, thank you so much. I also get boils when I eat certain foods and I easily resolve them by taking 1000 to 3000 of milligrams of Lysine at a time:)

I started getting boils in the groin area and thought it was from shaving, then I got one on my face and another and another. I have done so much research on this and have done a ton of home remedies which most do help but I have to say, taking apple cider vinegar and baking soda and making a paste seemed to pull the pus out fast!! It's a battle that's for sure.. I am on antibiotics and you need to make sure they give you one that is for bacteria!! MRSA is immuned to some antibiotics.. DETOX!!! There is a Detox Tea with lemon.. Best of luck to all of you who deal with this. It is stressful!!!!! I believe the Home Remedies work the best for pulling infection from the skin. Boil-Ease eats the skin if you use it too long and left a bad scar on me. BAKING SODA/VINEGAR..

Cut out gluten first of all and go on a paleo diet until your gut heals, now that you've been taking antibiotics for so long, your gut's pH levels will be off and your body is now probably very acidic. I take baking soda and ACV with lemon water to balance my pH, after trying everything under the sun, this is the only thing that works. Once your gut bacteria's pH is back to normal, 7.5, you can then try to add gluten little by little back into your diet, try it and see

I'm now 23 and I have suffered from HS since I was about six years old. I would get a flair up a couple times a year and it stayed that way, until I was around 17. I'm not sure what changed exactly, but I began having mulitple flair ups in my groin/buttock/armpit and now lower stomache areas. Its a terrible disease.

I finally got the guts to ask my gyno about it when I was like 18 and she told me it was a form of staph infections from poor hygiene, boy I felt like for a long time after that thinking it was something I did to myself. Luckily I know better now.

after doing some reaserch online, I refuse to use antibiotics because I dont want my body to build up a tolerence or be stuck on a medication for the rest of my life but some things I have found that have helped me are as followed.

When I get a flair up that wont pop, as long as its in an area I can bandage I use full strenth tea tree oil (I know its very drying on the skin, but it opens the sores right up to drain sometimes over night)

Recently, I cut out all majorly proccessed foods, and have gone gluten free and I noticed a HUGE change, they almost completely went away within a month, with an exception of one that I've been fighting with for about six months.

and then lastly I started taking Tumeric capsules like crazy. The 500mg ones, I would take 3x in the morning and 3x at night.

with the combination of all of that it cleared up my HS almost completely. Sadly, I went on vacation and didnt eat right, didnt take my vitamins, and I got insane flair ups, something like ten of them at once.

Over the last year I also lost 40 pounds and that might have something to do with it too. Anyway, I hope something here may help someone out there, I know it's all things that have been said before, but they have helped me when I stick to them!

Hi, I want to add to info and recommend things that may help on the debate about HS- Hidradenitis Suppurativa. I have had this since aged 18, I'm now 51 and have only recently been diagnosed with this distressing condition. I have done my own research and unfortunately the medical profession is ill- equipped to diagnose and treat the condition, some are dismissive and don't see it as serious yet it is potentially life threatening which is what happened to me. I have always been an excessive sweater since becoming an adult and was told by one Doctor that some people sweat more than others! I developed terrible genital sores mostly between thigh and groin area and have been misdiagnosed and dismissed by many GPs (General practitioners- Doctors. I'm in the UK), some saying I had Herpes without testing me(I was a virgin at time but don't think he believed me! ) , some saying it's hormonal but not giving further assitance. The only things ever offered are antibiotics and worst case is surgery yet both have been proven ineffective. I even had trouble getting food allergies diagnosed. The condition worsened and I have had terrible trouble with my underarms, one GP refused to help my underarm weeping from a shaving nic and made me feel embarrased and stupid.

I then moved to USA to live for awhile and there found a Doctor who treated my underarm with surgery saying that it had become infected. I had also discovered that Talc (unperfumed ) is great for any sores, weeping and have used it ever since. I still did not know I had HS at this stage and no advice was given except loose and breathable clothing which I already did as I am an eczema sufferer from childhood which I managed to get under control with diet and knowing allergies (like washing powders). Years later, and still living with terrible groin sores that no-one seemed to want to do anything about (why wasn't I referred to a dermatologist ?etc! ) I had an enormous breast abscess that started under my arm, I ended up as an emergency admission to hospital and surgery. I have had incidents since starting under the arm that have been staved off by anti biotics. However I still did not get diagnosed with HS and I and the GP's did not make connection with groin sores and underarm abscess at all. I should also say that before this I had Glandular Fever leading to five years of ME (chronic Fatigue Syndrome) which Doctors seemed to denied existing but didn't look into why I had ME. Plus I had pneumonia before Breast abscess and many missed symptoms of Colon cancer by GP's including food intolerances.

Since then I unfortunately was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. When had op to remove tumours it was found that I had old undiagnosed Endometriosis (that can cause ME symptoms) and my Surgeon (not GP! ) finally diagnosed my groin sores and lesions as HS. I had to push my GP to refer me to a Dermatologist (helped by letter from Surgeon with HS diagnosis) who has recently confirmed that the groin and underarm problems are HS and the breast abscess is the end result of an HS flare up. I don't want to scare people and I feel I have been particularly unlucky in what has happened to me but the medical profession needs to take this condition more seriously and more research needs to be done. There may be no cure but better management of the disease is possible. I have never been offered counselling nor received much sympathy for HS yet I have found it to be distressing especially before meeting my very understanding husband as I felt dirty, that I had sexually transmittable disease so wouldn't enter full sexual relations with people etc (this is not true you cannot pass it to others). It makes me cry now to think of how I've been treated. Depression is also common with HS sufferers especially when don't know what they have and are frustrated by medical professionals.

Knowing what you have and having proper information of how to deal with it plus sympathy from professionals makes a big difference. Since chemo I have not had a flare up except twinges under my arm, but I still sweat a lot when weather is hot or get a bit stressed. I need to lose a lot of weight which amazingly I held onto through my illness and 6 months chemo! It's hard to exercise without sweating though! I'm not sure I agree with line drawn between HS and smokers (by one person on site). I have never smoked and got this condition aged 18. I did grow up with parents who smoked though, but I don't think this is the only factor. Genetics, hormones, food allergies and clogged pores probably all play a part. I was vegetarian for 10 years yet still got everything going! What I have found helpful- co-inciding with chemo and HS remission has been my using Lemon Balm(Herb Melissa) cream (available health stores online in UK, not sure about US) on the affected areas, especially when starts to feel that a sore is developing, it seems to stop them in their tracks and helps soothe sores too. It is also effective with Herpes.

There has been indication that HS may be related to Herpes (this could also be Epstein Barr as related to Herpes- Glandular fever which I did have). I also used a lot of Teatree products- caution as long term use can dry the skin but of course that may help sweating conditions. Talc (unperfumed). Eating an organic natural diet- lots of Omega 3. I have been reading about how inflammation anywhere in the body is not good for the immune system so anything that is anti-inflammatory has to be good. This includes some food and drink. I believe in trying to solve problems naturally not with antibiotics and medication. I agree with another person on site who said about eating 'Gods food' , anything refined and processed has to be a No No, but I also think it's easy to get fixated and too strict on certain diets- eat healthy, variety but more veg and fruit in diet and whole grains (balance insulin levels amongst other things). Even if give up other dairy try 'Live' plain yogurt. Turmeric probably does work. Other anti-inflammatories- Oranges, Gingko, seaweeds, veg oils, nuts, seeds, greens, mint (natural), berries, apples, sweet potatoes, spinach, and others.

Pain control foods- Sunflower seeds (but caution if you do have Herpes as can cause breakouts for some), Capsicums- red peppers, Ginger root and powder

Diuretics may help dilute sweat and keep systmem clean, also anti-inflammatory. Try Dandelion and nettle teas, Milk Thistle, Burdock which is also good for skin conditions. Echinacea to boost immune system.

Calendula cream also good for skin.

Also, applied externally only try Lavender oil mixed with a veg oil to put on painful areas (not on open wounds though). Use glycerin based soaps, try plain and sulphur soaps (there is a connection of HS with acne which these are often used for), teatree products and lemon balm.

Avoid Sugars- they increase inflammation and feed fungal infections and tumours. They also push insulin levels up which can also affect hormones and cause diabetes. May contribute to sweating. Find natural sweeteners- Stevia is my preference.

Avoid alcohol (sugars, sweating and lowers immune system).

Start cooking at home or get food where know natural and organic and preferably low sugar and low fat. Ready made foods are high in fats, sugar and salt and low on nutrition. This includes bought baked goods like cakes. (Make own healthier ones- favourite for me and my family is a fruit and nut traybake cake using stevia).

Despite sweating you must exercise, make sure shower after. De-stress, meditate. Join a support group.

Hope this helps (and doesn't scare) others. Getting condition diagnosed and then under control are the key things then it won't lead to worsened infections. Get educated and do what's best for you. Check out-

ba-hs.org.uk, HS-USA.org,

hs-support.uni.cc/hidradenitis-suppurativa-faq

Good luck fellow sufferers.

Hi, I think she is on to something here because I too thought my HS flare up were just acne. I get them in my groin area. I put Proactiv Face mask on the bumps before they get big and it calms them down and sometimes they dont ever drain, they will just go away. I put it on at night. Depending where the bump is you can apply Proactiv face mask during the day too. I tried this on a bump that rubbed my leg when I walked and it ended up making it worse because of the friction. So I applied EMUaid during the day and proactiv face mask at night.

I have been using colloidal silver for many years and I buy it from my local health food store. You can also buy it online now. Hope this helps.

Tumeric paste of turmeric and honey would be better.

Get a food allergy test (from a naturopath). People with HS tend to have food sensitivities (due to weak immune systems)... Trust me - it changed my life."

I can not say it enough times on here - it is the CURE and will change your life!! Take out what your body can't digest and you will be back to normal!!!

I would like to help as many ppl as possible who have had this horrible disease - - I have this horrible disease for 3-4 years.... And I have now finally overcome it and am now living a "normal" life once again!!!

This MESSAGE needs to BE SPREAD to ALL HS SUFFERERS!!!