Top Remedies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

I have had HS for about 4 years now. Sadly, most doctors are not aware of the skin disease, and I have been diagnosed with Boils, Cysts, ingrown hairs, and was told to wear loose clothing, don't shave; everything they told me not to do- didn't work.

I only get them in my groin area- and it is the worst pain you could imagine. I am not overweight, nor have I ever been; as many say that is a big cause. I have never smoked. I have tried so many things including antibiotics on several occassions, topical antiobiotic creams, eating healthy, etc.

I have been taking Colloidal Silver for the past 7 months, and have seen a drastic difference. I don't get flares anymore (as long as I take it) but I know I am not cured becuase I can still feel the sacs under the skin and my skin is discolored. I had a wound that didn't heal for 4 months! That was when I started the Colloidal Silver. (My mom had told me about it). If I forget to take it, I am reminded when I start to get a flare up.

I also take Zinc supplements, and Apple Cider Vinegar tablets. I read on one of the forums that Oils (such as Omega) helps, as the oil glands are blocked because it is hardened. To me, this makes the most sense. I am going to try to include Oils in my supplements. We are all different, and every person's body reacts differently- which it's so hard because what works for one, may not work for another. You just have to keep trying different remedies, until you find what works best. I'm not sure which of the supplements I am taking are actually helping the most (of if all are) but I'm not stopping since it's working!

I am 35 yr old female & have suffered from HS for the past 15 years. I can honestly say taking the pill consecutively as I have for the past 4 years, does not help my HS. It seems we are all a little different when it comes to healing methods. So far I have yet to find a cure & I feel like I have tried everything!! Urrggg!! So frustrating.

For Hidradentis Supperative use Turmeric from 3 to 5 times daily in the first week and then decrease the number to 3 times daily this is a forever treatment, 50 mg of zinc daily forever 1 tablet of iodine. Use only sulphur soap on the infected areas, no cream, perfume or anything allowed to come in contact with the infected areas. Try to always keep your body alkalinized, drink at least 2 juiced lemons/limes per day.

The Turmeric drink method:

I teaspoon turmeric 1 table spoon olive oil or coconut oil mix together until the turmeric disolves add a pinch of black pepper half a lemon and stirthis mixture add water and drink.

The other way is to add the same amount of turmeric 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of honey a pinch of black pepper water or warm milk and drink.

Eliminate totally sugar and caffeine (at least for the first month) be stress free as much as you can.

Wear cotton underwear only and wash at least 3 times daily with sulphur soap.

If you have sinus tracts you must go to the doctor to drain/clean the infected areas first (surgery).

Stay in a cool place and avoid humid and hot places as much as you can.

Turmeric treatment will not help if your wounds/boils and tunnels are not cleaned first.

I hope this helps, good luck to you.

Dolly

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

How do you apply tea tree oil? Can it be added to bath water? Applied directly to affected area? After bathing? Has anyone seen a wound care therapist?

I see many people saying that turmeric helps with their chronic boils on this site. I wonder if these people have what I have, which is a skin condition called Hidradenitis Suppurativa. I've found that applying turmeric topically helps the boils greatly. HS has no cure, and no medical treatments so it's great to find something natural that can be so helpful. I do worry however about the blood thinning properties of turmeric....

I am interested in talking to you more about how to introduce the " bad news" about HS to your potential mates, I have actually been married for 5 years and had several boyfriends before that, none of my partners ever cared as long as you explain it-

Hey everyone! I'm 23 years old and had sufferend from HS from the age of 16 - 22. I tried turmeric, tea tree oil, anitbiotics, surgery, antibacterial soap, natural deodorant, no deodorant, no shaving, creams, accutane, birth control... none of it worked.

What finally worked for me was Baking Soda. Just plain old, straight up, arm and hammer baking soda. After I shave, I just pour some into my hands and rub it on my underarms and inner thighs. I haven't had a flare up for a good 6 months and I'm happier than ever. I know this solution may not work for others, but everyone's body is different, and it's possible this may help someone. I understand the shame and the pain involved with this disease, but I want to encourage you all that there is a solution. As I said before, everyone's body is different, so each of us need different solutions. Here was mine. Hope it helps someone.

With Hope, Shanay

I put Aloe Vera gel all over my scalp every single night before I sleep and keep it on all night (and shower after I wake up in the morning)...

I have the same problem in my head... but this seems to have really controlled and reduce the problem (takes time to fix)...

I also use Shea butter shampoo bar (by African Trade Society) on my head....I would recommend both.

I just wanted to say that HS is NOT contagious. I have had HS for 36 years and I was married for 19 years and my husband never once had anything, my doctor also assured me that you can not pass HS so your husband had a different issue going on.

Hi Guys,

I have had this disease from few years now & never bothered till the bumps & lumps got bigger & spreading with marks on my skin.... I got this disease all around my pubic hair....

I have found a remedy after trying nearly everything I read abt this diesease....

Try this and in a months time not only will you get rid of the marks & scars.... But it is the best remedy for this diesease....

No surgery needed.....

All you need is honey & cinnamon powder....

Yes thats it....

One tablespoon of honey & one half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder.... Mix them & make a paste...... Apply this all over your infected area & cover it with tissue.... Or any cloth leave it for three to four hours.... Do this preferably before you go to sleep.....

The best bit is it smells good & is good for ur skin as well.....

In one months time..... You are free from this chronic disease....

Good luck & be well...

Mark

Reply to: Aalexand from Greenwood, Ms, Usa

Hello,

My under my arms is the worst part of my HS, because of odor under my arms and the small open sores that don't want to close. My mobility of my right arm is limited, I can't reach for things with that arm, hug people and sleeping hurts. Actually my right arm is usually down at my side. Friends and family haven't noticed because I sadly play it off well.

Something simple like using salt crystal deodorant is why I love EC so much, I would have never though of that. I am already using turmeric and AZO yeast supplements which helping ridiculous amounts, but if salt crystal deodorant would help with the odor under my arms and actually aid in clearing the HS up as you said... Would be AMAZING!

I was wondering though how salt crystal deodorant feel under the arms, because I am a bit sensitive on the right side with the HS. Also if there is any stinging or burning sensation associated?

Thank you so much for your comment, I am so glad you are doing much better =)

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!

I have had Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) for approximately 12 years. I never had HS until I went through a premature menopause at age 41. I also have psoriasis. I was recently diagnosed with diabetes.

In my opinion, HS is a "triangle disease". HS has very obvious hormonal, endocrine and inflammatory components. I understand it completely in women. Look when women are first and/or worst affected: puberty, menstration, birth control methods, childbirth, perimenopause and finally (and more rarely) menopause. Men with HS often have very low testosterone levels.

Why do some people see improvement when they lose weight or change their diet? Besides reduction of "skin-on-skin" contact and possible reduction of sweating, what could explain this phenomenon? If we look at the endocrine "leg" of the triangle, better blood sugar control could explain it. Adopting a diabetic diet with its low carbohydrate count CAN help you lose weight as it lowers your blood sugar. I like to call a good diet the "God Diet". If God created it in nature, it's on your diet. Notice how the "God Diet" is relatively low in carbohydrates, contains moderate protein and lots of vitamins and minerals? God did not make Twinkies; we did! Being overweight does not cause HS. It is far more complicated than that. Diabetes is strongly associated with other hormonal diseases. Women who are "hormonally challenged" like those with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) are also prone to diabetes. Those women with PCOS who are having a hard time getting pregnant often can be helped with metformin, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT DIABETIC. If you have a problem with yeast infections, think higher blood sugar levels. Men with low testosterone often have diabetes, too, or are at risk of developing it. I HIGHLY recommend all people who have been diagnosed with HS or think they may have HS, to visit an endrocrinologist and have the complete panel of blood tests done. You may be surprised what they show (like my premature ovarian failure or POF).

I have virtually cured the HS lesions in my underarms. I say "virtually" because I have had one lesion in 10 years. I had laser underarm hair removal. The one lesion that I did get was immediately following shaving of some leftover "whispies" (You can barely even see them). HS is a "clogging disease". Removing the hair shaft from its follicle allows for more "wiggle room" for sweat to be released. A number of HS sufferers stop using anti-perspirant because of its clogging factor. Drinking plenty of water helps to dilute one's sweat. Showering after exercise does not allow sweat to stay on the skin. I am considering having Botox treatments on my inner thighs done. I want to reduce the sweat factor as much as I can. I do very well in the wintertime, but not so great in the summertime. I have kept my disease as bay using as many preventative tips that I can learn from other sufferers (like boy-leg panties and tea tree oil, to name a couple).

I am interested in Tumeric. It makes sense. Long before antibiotics were discovered, people used other substances known for controlling infections. Tea tree oil is one. Honey is another. Wine was used as an antiseptic. Olive oil was used in biblical times for skin problems. When modern scientists examine these substances today, they can explain why they work.

One topic that I want to bring up that is not popular to hear is smoking. I've read several studies that implicate smoking in the development of HS. Quitting smoking doesn't seem to affect HS much, but never starting to smoke in the first place is a huge factor. There are genetics behind HS sufferers who have other famly members afflicted by HS, but smoking may be the kick off behind those without the obvious genetic link. The link between smoking and HS was as high as 90% in those studies. I once went to an HS support group meeting. There was a group of approximately 15 of us who went out to dinner together. I asked around the table who were smokers or ex-smokers. Of the 15 people present, only one person was a non-smoker/never been a smoker! That particular woman never had HS until after she had a complete hysterectomy - a hormonal-challenged woman of normal weight. Why didn't our group reflect the percentage of smoking adults in the United States? Why did our group reflect a smoking rate of over 90%? I mentioned earlier that I have psoriasis. Did you know that psoriasis and smoking have a connection, too?

I think HS can be conquered if we can attack it in its earliest stages. Most diseases are better managed before they really get bad. Early diagnosis is key. Please share with others what works for you!

Hello everyone I have personally dealt with Hidradenitis for over nine years. I have terrible scars under my right armpit as well as scars on my buttocks. The first boil I ever had was in high school and it was on my buttocks and it was huge and painful! Needless to say from that point on I have been plagued ever since. I would go to the hospital and get them lanced and they would just put me on antibiotics which would help but the relief was always short lived. I found out years later that I had this Disease and learned the official name for it. The doctor suggested the surgery option or the Accutane. Neither option was appealing so from that point on I researched and researched as much as I possibly could on remedies and treatments.

I came across this website and read a lot of the posts and cried because I really could relate and I didn't feel alone. Once I browsed the site I was eager to try whatever I could to make this go away! I began using only Lever 2000 soap, cooking with Turmeric. I also used Tea tree oil topically, after all these steps I noticed an improvement but still kept having reoccurring boils that would never completely heal I'm talking about weeks and months. So with a little more web surfing, I decided to try Echinacea and I loved it! I noticed it brought boils to the surface immediately! I also changed my deodorant from secret to tom's and Jason's. Also being on a health kick I decided to do the master cleanse to see if that would help the situation, and it actually did.

But this is when it got even better I researched an herb called Pau d' Arco and have been taking it in conjunction with the Echinacea and OMG I'm getting some seriously AMAZING results! First of all my bad acne on my back is clearing up and most importantly it's causing my boils to drain and the area surrounding the boils to clear up. I feel almost like a tingling sensation as if it's fighting the infection! I just wanted to share this I really hope it helps someone.

Paula from NC. I like so many others are glad this site exist. HS is terrible to deal with. Have had mine for 40 years but not as bad as some. When I was in my 20's , living in SC, my OBGYN Dr put me on Erythromycin pills. The boils would be the size of a marble full of pus and blood. Some when touched would send a pain like a needle going straight in. The doseage was 2000 mgs a day for about a week. Taking Erythromycin has never caused me a days problem but some Drs may shake their heads no to put someone on this medicine for a long time. This dried up all the boils and inflamation for about 3 months then it would start up again. Process would have to be repeated. Of course I would get lazy and just deal with it. Over the years the infection has lightly spread up above the hair line. Now getting off my duff and going to a new OBGYN Dr she put me on Doxycycl. Before one week was up no boils, itching or inflamation. Just being knowledgeable about my symptons and treatments HS needs to be treated from the inside not outside. Hope some of this may shed some light on anothers situation. Best to all Hs suffers.

Hi guys, I have had this for quite a number of years. And while I'm sure tumeric and the other remedies discussed on here work, for me protein shakes seem to be the answer. Of course it is not a cure but it makes the HS very manageble and takes away almost all of the pain.

How did I find this out? Well I heard someone say they were going to try it for their HS and I thought I should look into this. Apparently there is an enzyme in protein shake that reduces inflamation, this being an imflammatory disease affecting the biggest organ ( the skin) I thought it might work and it does.

You don't have to even drink it everyday. I would say like 3/4 times a week should be fine. Also protein shake does NOT make you muscle bound. Please don't be naive.

I hope it works for you. Lets pray the find a cure.

I had to have a sulfa-based antibiotic to cure my last swollen node on my groin. After wearing tight synthetic workout undershorts for several hours (which I won't do again), I had another case in the same groin area and felt the swollen gland grow to the size of a nickle. I read someone's suggestion on this site that Tea Tree Oil may work and I applied it to the swollen node three times a day and it has gone away in 5 days. I am thrilled. I suppose catching it early helps. I purchased Tea Tree Oil from a beauty supply.

After trying the gamut of internal and external treatments for the past 30 years - everything short of surgery - I have had some promising results (touch wood) with two simple products: exfoliating body scrub and a tea tree oil-based deodorant. This will not necessarily clear up an existing outbreak but it may help prevent or reduce the severity of future ones.

Try an exfoliating body scrub daily on problem areas. I have been using a Neutrogena acne scrub containing salycilic acid, as well as a delightful coconut scrub from Pure Fiji. They help keep pores and follicles clear and may keep nasties from getting a foothold.

Have also switched to a tea trea oil-based deodorant (by Jason), applying it to armpits as well as other problem areas.

I started this about 4 months ago after an especially nasty and persistent outbreak that affected several parts of my body at once. It finally cleared up with a course of heavy antibiotics supplemented by several of the home remedies described on this forum (especially turmeric tea, turmeric paste, and tea trea oil). In 4 months I have had only a couple of very small and superficial "pimples" that subsided in 1 or 2 days. Good luck.

CK

I read a lot about peoples boils draining on their own. I have only had HS for about 4 years now, and none of mine have ever opened on the surface. They are always deep and VERY painful! So painful that I have had them lanced and drained by a docter before they could get to that point. I can not even imagine waiting for them to surface.. Ouch!! Because of them always being deep I can not understand how anything applied to the skin will help?? Within one year I have had my armpit lanced 8 times and my groin once always deep and about nickle sized. Am I the only one who has a situation like this???

IF YOU HAVE HS PLEASE READ THIS

I have had HS for around 7 years now. Some breakouts are bad and some are bearable. I think there is really no rhyme or reason to it. Around this time of the year (summer) is when it is at its worst for me. Luckily I have not had any outbreaks since last July of 2010. It ruined my world cup experience. My doctor had prescribed me Keflex also known as Cephalexin. The problem is you can't take Keflex year around because it is a strong anitbiotic. I typically have a jelly bean size and very hard bump under my armpits. I experience discomfort but it is bearable. When the infection starts to get bad it can turn into the size of an egg until it drains. When I can feel the infection worsen I take my Keflex and it has been keeping it in check but the bump never went away. I also clean with hibiclens but from what I understand hygeine has absolutely nothing to do with it. The Keflex has had my spirits up and feeling that I could contain this. I was also prescribed clindomyacin lotion.. But... NOW READ THIS. I SWEAR IT WORKED FOR ME. I FEEL OBLIGATED TO POST THIS.. ITS UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT OUT. IT IS VERY INEXPENSIVE COMPARED TO THE THROBBING ACHING PAIN WHEN IT GETS BAD..

All of my friends are aware of my problem because I decided I wasn't going to be embarrased about it anymore or let it affect my personal life. When my friend told his dad his dad told him he he had a friend that had it too and he went to countless doctors who were unsuccessful in treating it. The last time he went to the doctor (because obviously he never had to go back since this worked for him) the doctor told him to simply eat swiss cheese. I know it souds crazy but please keep on reading. Apparently Swiss chesse has a different type of bacteria than any other cheese and the reason for the holes in the cheese are because the bacteria expels gasses. Something in that counter acts what we have. I can honestly say I have no bumps and have been eating Swiss Cheese for 2 weeks now. I don't eat an insane amount but I go through about 1 lb in 3 days. I only eat the swiss cheese from Switzerland not made in Connecticut or anything like that. I don't know if they use the same process. I found it at Sams club for $1.17 per lb. , which cost around $25 a week. Someone please try it. It WORKED for me.. I do not own a cheese company or invest in any stock of any kind. I just want someone else to try it because maybe this is a coincedence... But maybe not.

Feedback Please.