Top Remedies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Let me be clear. I have had this problem for 13 years in my groin and armpits. I have tried everything under the sun, multiple anti biotics, different soaps, different vitamins, many topical oils and gels, and many other things.

Hydrogen peroxide is the only thing that works for me. It doesn't make it go away, but it reduces the pain to almost nothing. It also keeps the boils from recurring as frequently as they did before. Simply get a spray bottle, heat it in the microwave to where it's hot (Not intolerable) and then spray it on the afflicted areas once or twice a day.

I hope this helps!

After reading many of your remedies for underarm boils, I purchased a drawing salve and used it night and day for 4 days. It did not help at all. Next, decided to try colorless iodine. Sat the bottle in the bathroom next to the mirror and every time I went into the bathroom I applied more iodine. Within 24 hours the boil opened and started to drain and finally I was getting the relief I hoped for the pain. I continued using the iodine for the next day as a precaution and I'm happy to report it is totally gone. I've only had one other boil in my lifetime (I'm 66 years old) and that was in the genital area. I wish I had known about the iodine during that episode years ago.

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!

Since HS seems to be tied to the hair follicles, I am undergoing laser hair removal procedures - have completed 6 treatments, and have noticed a significant decrease/reduction in HS activity after the 4th or 5th treatment... Not cured, but a lot better!

Your ailment can now be treated and removed through a minimal invasive method, involving the use of laser technology. Unlike conventional treatments, this method allows for complete healing of all fistulas and dermoids, without the excision of the inflammatory tissue. There is no longer a need for massive tissue removal - which means no large wounds or fissures are created.

After an ultrasound examination of the tissue, the infected area is sealed off and confined using a surgical laser; the abscess is opened through two tiny laser incisions and removed. After removal, the laser beam is focused on the closed cavity. In this way the previously infected and inflamed area is disinfected and sterilized. In turn the laser beam causes the cavity to contract, reducing the vacant area significantly. A minor, post-surgical treatment of the external tissue is performed.

This minimal invasive procedure allows complete recover within 2-3 weeks.

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

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.

Chronic Hidradenitis Suppurativa:

In the Ted's Q&A I found a reference to MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE and BLACK TEA. This is the most effective combo I have found for HS but I do not see it referred often.

Magnesium Oil is available at health stores and online. It can be painful, but it works for me esp early in a breakout.

Black tea, applied via cotton round pad after the oil, with frequent applications, is soothing for the pain and seems to remove the heat and pressure.

Turmeric ( drink with black pepper for absorbtion), tea tree oil, and diet changes also help.

A note on gluten: there are different types of wheat with different protiens all of which are gluten. It gets complicated. I found some breads are ok, but pasta and pretzels are not ok for me.

Depending on hormone levels some "safe" foods turn into trigger foods.

Nightshades effect me * depending on the freshness of the nightshade*. I can eat potatoes that are not sprouting yet, but old potatoes are triggers. I don't eat chips for this reason.

Short version: Black Tea and Magnesium oil (same as magnesium chloride), see Ted's Q&A.

I went to my surgeon yesterday who says there's nothing else he can do for me. If that wasn't a big enough blow to my mental state after suffering with HS for years, he also prescribed me some antibiotics that I am weary about taking. The first is Cleocin and the other is Rifampicin. I have read the literature on both and the side effects are scary to say the least. Does anyone have any information about these drugs and their use for HS? I am already suffering with depression from everything I've been through over the years with this disease so I'm wondering if I am needlessly worried about these drugs. Can anyone help?

Worked Temporarily

antibiotics and cortisone shots to the infected area only help somewhat - no cure exists (had it 46 years) I've been cut and had drains on and off for 46 years - I have found that washing with TRIAZ (a prescription liquid soap) works in fighting the bacteria that flourishes in the groin and armpit areas - the only natural remedy that helps me is the ocean and sun - thanks for all the info in this website.

Mercurius Vivus as a HS remedy:

I was diagnosed with HS about 5 years ago. I've tried just about everything you could imagine to keep it "in check" since there is supposedly no cure. I've had them lanced, surgically removed, month after month of antibiotics, special soaps and salt baths, etc...I recently found a homeopathic site that mentioned the use of Mercurius Vivus as a remedy. Has anyone heard of this? I've gone to several sites looking for infomation on this but they all seem to say the exact same thing. Nothing about side effects (since we all know mercury can be toxic). I know most homeopathic treatments use such small amounts of these compounds that there is very little chance of adverse reactions but...

It sounds like it could work. I bought the pills from the Seacoast Vitamin site; they are very inexpensive, but I would still like to know the pros or cons of taking them before I start the interesting regimen. (dissolve 5 pills under your tongue 3 times a day until condition resolves) I thought that was different. :) Thanks in advance for any help. Everyone hang in there; we are definitely not alone in this.

EC: Interesting article about Mercurius Vivus here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0005/ai_2603000520

I have posted previously on this topic and I have been suffering from HS for 12 years. It has increasingly gotten worse as I have gotten older. It go to the point where I had two spots on my inner thighs that were almost constantly abscessed. It was so painful and really got in the way of my normal life activities.

I have tried almost every remedy on this site with little results, aside from turmeric, which really only slowed the rapid growth of the massive infections.

I hit my limit one day and went to a natural foods store with a very long list of things I was going to try from this site. I ended up speaking to the owner of the store who asked what I was dealing with. I reluctantly told him, because as you know, it is very embarrassing. He immediately said it sounded like a Ph issue and recommended organic sulfur (MSM).

I started taking 1 tsp in water morning and night. I felt the pain had started to go away the first night. By the third day I could lightly pinch the abscess, which was quite large, with almost no pain. I would have been excruciating before. By the end of the week it was shrinking and COMPLETELY gone by two weeks. It is nothing short of amazing. I can have a normal life again.

It has been almost a year and I have had only one issue, only because I quit taking it regularly. I felt a little Pain on my inner thigh and felt a hard lump under the skin about the size of a pencil eraser. I didn't immediately panic and get upset. I started taking the organic sulfur again and in two days I can't feel it anymore.

It was very expensive in the store, but I found 4xs the amount on Amazon for half the price. My fiance and I have been taking it regularly, for the most part and have seen our allergy symptoms dramatically decrease, he has started regrowing hair, and reduce sinus infections.

It is recommended to buy the powder, not capsules, because anti-caking agents inhibit its results. Don't eat or drink anything for about 10 minutes after and don't mix it with anything but water. It is kind of bitter and doesn't taste very good. I noticed it tastes much better if I mix it in hot or very warm water and it dissolves right away.

Please try it and let everyone know how it works for you. I went to the doctor many times over the years and NOTHING helped. I have had many abscesses lanced and packed and it is awful. I didn't want to post to early as not to raise anyone's hopes. But I am more than sure now.

I have posted previously on this topic and I have been suffering from HS for 12 years. It has increasingly gotten worse as I have gotten older. It go to the point where I had two spots on my inner thighs that were almost constantly absessed. It was so painful and really got in the way of my normal life activities.

I have tried almost every remedy on this site with little results, aside from tumeric, which really only slowed the rapid growth of the massive infections.

I hit my limit one day and went to a natural foods store with a very long list of things I was going to try from this site. I ended up speaking to the owner of the store who asked what I was dealing with. I reluctantly told him, because as you know, it is very embarassing. He immediately said it sounded like a Ph issue and recommended organic sulfur (MSM).

I started taking 1 tsp in water morning and night. I felt the pain had started to go away the first night. By the third day I could lightly pinch the absess, which was quite large, with almost no pain. I would have been excruciating before. By the end of the week it was shrinking and COMPLETELY gone by two weeks. It is nothing short of amazing. I can have a normal life again.

It has been almost a year and I have had only one issue, only because I quit taking it regularly. I felt a little Pain on my inner thigh and felt a hard lump under the skin about the size of a pencil eraser. I didn't immediately panic and get upset. I started taking the organic sulfur again and in two days I can't feel it anymore.

It was very expensive in the store, but I found 4xs the amount on Amazon for half the price. My finace and I have been taking it regularly, for the most part and have seen our allergy symptoms dramatically decrease, he has started regrowing hair, and reduce sinus infections.

It is recommended to buy the powder, not capsules, because anticaking agents inhibit its results. Don't eat or drink anything for about 10 minutes after and don't mix it with anything but water. It is kind of bitter and doesn't taste very good. I noticed it tastes much better if I mix it in hot or very warm water and it disolves right away.

Please try it and let everyone know how it works for you. I went to the doctor many times over the years and NOTHING helped. I have had many absesses lanced and packed and it is awful. I didn't want to post to early as not to raise anyone's hopes. But I am more than sure now.

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!

My son was diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) last year, he's 15.

After 3 different kinds of antibiotics, it kept coming back. It started at both his underarms and then his private area. I've been reading up on this and trying to find some relief for him. I bought turmeric pills, the high strength with at least 95% curcumin, he's taking zinc, vitamin D3 and flax seed oil. His boils drain often after a flare up. It's been a couple months taking turmeric, the boils are still there. I read up on nightshades food and took him off a certain food.

What we discovered is he can't have pizza sauce, any sauce with tomatoes in it. Then we discovered he can't have potatoes, just sweet potatoes which he doesn't like. Sugar, like in soda is another item he must avoid. I hate to see him suffer daily and having to do so much maintenance for his boils. I bought the 15 umf manuka honey to apply to the boils. It helps but it didn't totally go away. I spent $65 on a 8oz bottle of the 20 umf manuka honey and the boils are still there. When the boil drained, there is a piece of tissue hanging, gross, I know but the manuka honey helps it shrink back and close the opening, it took about a week.

I am running out of resources, I wish he could have 1 of the successful story I read from people here. We've been battling this for a year with no relief. Does anyone have something else I can try?