Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Natural Remedies

Top Remedies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Sexual Link
Posted by Ana (New York, NY) on 08/15/2014

I have been suffering from HS for the past 10 years. I have tried antibiotic, surgery, tea tree oil, antibacterial soap and it just keeps coming back worse and worse. I noticed that if I am sexually active and experience an orgasm, the very next day I will flear up. I wait few days until I feel better and again experience an orgasm and the lump comes up again the very next day. It never fails. It is very frustrating to know that I can be sexually active without having a break out. Is there any relationship between HS and sex? Any one has any information about this.


Omega 3 Oils
Posted by Donna (Pensacola, Fl, Usa) on 04/14/2013
★★★★★

When I was younger I started having a problem with boils in very uncomfortable places. They often had to be lanced. Both the problem and the cure were very painful! They began to occur with increasing frequency until I was getting them about every two weeks and missing a lot of work. I was at my wit's end. The gynecologist said it was clogged glands, the dermatologist said it could be hydradenitis suppurativa. I researched that and was horrified to think that was what I could be facing. It's not a pleasant problem.

While doing a little research on it, I came across a posting on an internet forum by a doctor advising people that hydradenitis suppurativa was caused by body oils that became thick and clogged pores which then became boils or carbuncles. (His explanation was better than mine as I am working from memory and it was 15-20 years ago.) He recommended taking Omega 3 oils. I immediately realized that I had been having a remission of the problem for awhile because I had been doing the Atkins diet and taking quite a lot of oil capsules on a daily basis for a year. It had been about 6 months since I stopped taking them because I stopped the diet and the boils had come back to my great dismay.

I immediately started taking them again and the problem was relieved. I have consistently taken oils since then (usually flax seed oils but sometimes fish oils or a combination) and find that as long as I get regular doses, I don't have boils but if I go for too long without it they come back. When I realize that I am starting to get one then I immediately start the oil regimen and they resolve.

I am also prone to Psoriasis or Eczema around my ears and on my scalp. I was not having much luck treating that either but it occurred to me that maybe I was low on oils again so I started taking them and it seemed to clear up. Maybe that was a coincidence but nothing else was working and it had spread all over my scalp and was itching like crazy.

Omega 3 Oils
Posted by Kelly (OH) on 09/21/2024
★★★★★

Hi, I started taking the omega 3's and applying olive oil and for a year I have not had a flare up!!! Thank you so much!!


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Tracey (Somewhere, Montana Lake) on 04/02/2013
★★★★☆

I have had HS since I was about 19 years old I am now 51years old. I diden't have a diagnosis till about 10 years ago. I've seen numerous doctors. I have tried topical antibiotic creams, lotions and gels, retinol prescriptions very expensive and not covered by my insurance. However the retinol did help. I have used tea tree oil for many years and add hibilclens to lever2000. I can't use dial.

I started using turmeric and magnesium yesterday for pain issues. I also take EFA's and have since my 20's. I am currently on an oral antibiotic which was given to me after 2 outbreaks where I turned septic. I had a cyst the size of a grapefruit on my buttocks. It started out the size of a grain of rice at 10pm. By 1pm in the morning I had a fever of 106 and the cyst was the size of a lime. By the time I was able to get into the doctor at about noon I was septic. This happened again a few years later. I also used ACV and zinc, not as helpful for me as other people here at this site. I don't want to add too many thing at once. So for now I see how what I added works. I would like to get off the antibiotics.

Colloidal Silver
Posted by Sandy (Brisbane, Australia) on 07/12/2017

Hi Diane

My daughter also has DS and HS. You mentioned that you know of other girls with DS who also have this HS condition - I'm interested to hear more if you know anything further of the correlation etc.

We have found HS is definitely a hormonal response to adolescence. Recently, her cycle has been all over the place together with those horrible emotional outbursts. We have removed all Gluten, Dairy, Sugar and Nightshades (tomatoes, capsicum, paprika, potatoes, eggplant etc). We have a daily protocol of organic turmeric capsules - 2 daily, VitC with Zinc, Fish Oils, Probiotics, tea tree oil on lesions twice daily and homeopathic remedies. We have reduced her outbreaks significantly now with only small lumps appearing during/prior to her cycle. These are reasonably manageable when seen early. But were looking to better this if not prevent.

I'm currently looking at a herbal mix here in Australia called Happy Hormones which helps regulate the androgen hormones - which we feel may be a large contributing factor in our situation.

I will definitely add Colloidal Silver to our mix . We can get it here in Australia in our Health Food Shops.

Thank you


Eliminate Allergen Foods
Posted by Ace (Vancouver, Bc) on 03/03/2012
★★★★★

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!!!

General Feedback
Posted by Janie (Bay City, Michigan, Usa) on 08/06/2011

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!


Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Mike (Tulsa, Ok) on 07/14/2011
★★★★★

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.


Olive Oil
Posted by Wellsprings (Tarboro, Nc, Usa) on 10/12/2009
★★★★☆

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Eating yogurt every day and putting olive oil on daily prevents flare ups of Hidradenitis Suppurative. I rub olive oil on my groin every morning and every night; it soaks in quickly. Most of the time, I do not get the bumps unless I skip several days of putting on the oil; however, even if I get a bump, it prevents any bumps from getting large. I have had some so large I could not even sit correctly. ____ patches are great for pain relief. You can cut the patch to the exact size you need. I am 49 and have had bouts with these since I was in my teens. About six months ago, I read about the oil in Isaiah 1:6 In the JPS version it reads "From head to foot no spot is sound: all bruises, and welts, and festering sores-not pressed out, not bound up, not softened with oil." I had pressed bumps allot, but I had never softened them with oil. The oil works miracles.

Bee Propolis
Posted by Leeya (London, UK) on 07/25/2009
★★★★☆

good news for everyone who are suffering with this disease. my daughter was suffering with this disease for the last 2yrs , i have tried everything u name it and one day in my home i found a herbal antibiotic. actually my uncle use this herbal antibiotic for general purpose and asked me to try this one. you can't believe it the very next day i saw the difference. boils which were open were like going to be disappear soon.

i am writing you the details of this antibiotic but would like to say one thing. this medicine effects on my daughter very quickly probably she is very young and respond immediately to this medicine. but as more adults are suffering with this.. i have a feeling its will take slightly more time probably it will take a month or more . but please try it. she takes one tablet everyday for the last 4 months. i dont know how long i am going to give this medicine but certainly not going to stop soon. at least she is not a victim of Hidradenitis Suppurativa anymore.

the name of the _____ is bee propolis. its a wood supplement. if you couldn't able to find it feel free to contact me.


Burdock Root
Posted by Michelle (Chicago, IL) on 03/21/2009
★★★★★

Hidradenitis Suppurativa cure:

one thing that can cure your Hidradenitis Suppurativa is Burdock root. Take Burdock root for 3 months ( 3 times daily) and then stop for 3 months, then repeat... you will not have any problems anymore. Eat lots of read meat ( Burdock may lower iron), lots of fatty fish, limit dairy (once again because of iron absorption) and fruit + vegies. WORK OUT A LOT

Laugh a lot
live well

Michelle

Burdock Root
Posted by Leanne (Baltimore, Md) on 12/21/2014
★★★★★

Thank God for this site and for your post, Michelle! After trying so many suggestions (Tumeric, baking soda, drawing salve, etc.) Burdock root tablets have succeeded in helping my HS! I have no angry red lesions for the first time in 3 years!

That said, this isn't a complete cure. You need to figure out if you have a food intolerance (mine are excess sugar and corn) and drastically reduce those/that food in your diet. Looking into leaky gut syndrome may also be helpful (I swear by acv, kefir, and probiotics. My stomach has never been this happy). Best of luck to everyone! So encouraged and thankful to have found this site!


Mercurius Vivus (Homeopathic)
Posted by Ana (Las Vegas, Nv) on 10/14/2010

I have posted on this site several times now. I had a visit to my derm July 1st and was admitted to the hospital for another blood infection. They did a CT and found that the abscess had made it all the way to my thigh muscle. The next morning I had surgery. I have had 3 surgeries since July 2nd. As horrible as the surgery is, the pain afterwards is far less painful than the HS itself. All he did was open every boil and tunnel, left them open and had me start taking Vitamin A. I am due for a 4th surgery but I am putting it off for a bit so I can recoup from the other 3 surgeries. Don't get me wrong, it is far from anything I would willingly do to myself but it's a necessary evil. I will eventually have to have reconstructive surgery to get things back to "normal" but that is still way out in the future. The surgeon thinks it may take up to a year of surgeries to get all of them taken care of before a plastic surgeon will take over. Again, not a fun surgery and it is disfiguring but a lot less painful than the disease itself and the surgeries are working. Air and vitamin A seem to be the best result I have had so far and I have tried everything imaginable. My prayers go out to everyone suffering with HS.


Ichthammol
Posted by Hippy dude (Los Angeles CA ) on 12/29/2023
★★★★★

Edited 3/01/24 at 1:33 pm
Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Depends on a location but dub the "thick" paste of ichthammol over the boil little bit bigger than the size of boil itself and put gauze over it and tape it up worked for me.
You can mix with itchamol & Neosporin 50/50 too , also you can apply iodine first then dry it and apply that itchamol & Neosporin over if you want.

Replace the gauze and re apply itchamols thick and generously then cover it with gauze again and tape it up. About 4 days and all the pus comes out & sticks to the gauze.

Get an itchamol in a jar for the horse. Because you gonna need it.


Coconut Oil
Posted by Amy (Derby england) on 06/14/2023
★★★★★

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!


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Cruz (NY) on 05/29/2020

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.


Bandaids
Posted by Jbrandt (Winston Salem Nc) on 08/23/2017

I couldn't help but laugh when I read your comment because I have been doing the same thing for about 8 years. I have HS in the same area and the "outbreak" is always the same spot. It has left me with a tiny spot that when I flare up that's where it drains. I keep a bandaid over it ALL the time and is really does help with the friction. It's just a part of my normal routine now.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Amdkm (India) on 02/14/2016
★★★★☆

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.


Antibiotics
Posted by Dan (Iowa) on 10/21/2015
★★★★☆

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.

Burdock Root
Posted by Dan (Rochester, Mn ) on 07/23/2015

Patients with severe HS tend to have low iron and can easily become anemic. Recent research is beginning to discover there seems to be a connection between inappropriate amino acid metabolism in relation to particular classes of digestive bacteria. While it's not definitive and more research needs to be done this would suggest a high protein diet as a source of iron may actually worsen symptoms. I would instead suggest increasing iron through a source such as curly dock seed.

Acne Soap
Posted by Isabel (St Vincent & The Grenadines) on 07/04/2015
★★★★☆

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.


Turmeric, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Miko (Columbia, Md ) on 06/15/2015

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


Scars
Posted by Becky (Nokesville, Va ) on 06/02/2015

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.



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