Top Remedies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Turmeric, Zinc and Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Edie (Moundsville, Wv) on 03/27/2015
★★★★★

I came upon this site out of desperation looking for some help with the hydradenitis. I have been dealing with this for at least 30 years. I have only had a few at a time and sometimes none at all for a few years, I get them in my groin area and on the labia. I have only had really large ones on 3 occasions that sent me to the Dr.

Just a few weeks ago I developed a very large abscess that became about the size of a lime on the labia on left side. I called the Dr. and went in right away and was put in the hospital to run IV antibiotics. On day 2 it drained and he let me go home on day 3 with 2 different strong antibiotics. It went down to very small size but did not go away and I started to develop a smaller one on the left side.

So coming to this site and reading all that people were using I decided to start using the turmeric and zinc. Also using tea tree oil mixed with olive oil. I have to say that this seems to be working better than the antibiotics. They drained for a few days after starting this, now the drainage has stopped and they seem to be going away. I am taking 450 mg. of turmeric 3 times a day and 50 mg zinc twice a day. The tea tree oil I am applying after shower and then one or two times again during the day. I hope that they continue to go away and I don't have any more for a while anyway. Thank you for all the information and help. Glad to know that this is not a rare thing and lots of other people are going through this also. I did have four surgically removed 2 years ago and did not have any more for a while. But the ones that just came up have come back in the same places. So I guess the surgery wasn't that successful. Here's hoping that I continue to get better with the use of these supplements.

Fresh Garlic

Posted by Charlotte (Pittsburgh) on 02/15/2015
★★★★★

I had suffered for years with boils. Doctors did nothing but lanced them. I got them under my arms and in my groin area. I must of had a least one hundred of them. I have been boil free for over 7 years. They got really big about the size of a half a egg and were very painful.

Glory be to God... I bumped into the simple remedy... Raw fresh garlic, a whole head daily. In my salads and with all my food and sauces.

Fresh Garlic

Posted by Kelly (Ohio) on 04/03/2022

This is awesome! I have had HS for 30 years. I have only learned on how to "ease" the pain of the flare ups. Just the other day I was reading comments in a forum for HS. This lady said that 15 years ago she was at a family reunion and one of her elders told her to take garlic supplements. She stated that she started taking garlic supplements and has'nt had a flare up in 15 years! I just received my garlic supplements today. I got the kind that has a high dose of ALLICIN in it. Cooking raw garlic will weaken the effects of the ALLICIN. Thank you so much for your comment...it confirms what I read!

Top Remedies Summary

Posted by Salome Tiny (Botswana) on 02/10/2015

I am doing research for my brother, he has got Hidradenitis Suppurativa under his armpit, will try turmeric.

Top Remedies Summary

Posted by Lily (Virginia, US) on 03/04/2015

i wasn't going to share my story until I saw yours. You don't know how much your comment has helped me. I didn't think anyone else got it so young . I have had this since I was 11. I thought it was a punishment from God for shaving off my hair because it didn't want to embrace puberty. I hid it from my family until I was 14, it got so bad I thought I was never going to recover. The first doctor I went to shamed me and gave me antibiotics that almost killed me -literally. The other doctor that I went to save me from the antibiotics was male and too shamed to even try to help me. It's been 5 years and I haven't been back to a doctor since. And have never been romantically with someone because of this. I am hoping this tea tree oil and turmeric work!

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Martha89 (Los Angeles, California) on 09/06/2014
★★★★★

Several years ago I was diagnoised with Hidradentis Suppurativa by two doctors. Recently I went to specialist in the disease, she examined my armpits (without gloves) by rubbing and looking for scar tissues and marks left from previous outbreaks. She saw no scars or marks under my arms, and said "she did not think I had the disease."

She told me to go home and try her solution for my problem, and if that did not work come and see her again. All smiles---it worked. She had me take a bath every other day for 7 days only, and to put a little clorox in the water (1/4) cup. In addition, she had me take my previous prescribed oral antibiotic for "7 days only" (this stuff I had been taken for 3 years), and to put the previous cream prescribed for my scars/bumps into my nostrils for 7 days, several times a day.

So basically this new doctor's advice cleared me up in 7 days for a disease I was told I had for the past 3 years. My old doctor (dermatologist) had me take oral antibiotic pills everyday for years, and I had to see him monthly---go figure.

It has been 4 months (summer 2014) and I have not had any outbreaks, smell or drama associated with that disease. The bumps under my breasts, which I thought "was not" associated with the disease was entirely something else--- a problem that quite a few big breasted women have. The new doctor prescribed a cream to put under my breasts and I have not broken out since. However, I do wear cotton in my bra on hot, humid days.

Needless to say, I am so happy that I am no longer having the problems I have had for the past three years. I do think that moving to this hot and humid state 4 years ago contributed to this problem. I must say I feel very uncomfortable in this weather, and try not to go out on extremely hot, humid days.

Good luck and I hope this helps somewhat.

Colloidal Silver, Zinc, Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jess (Arizona, US) on 08/28/2014
★★★★★

Hey there. After having my hormonal birth control....the devil's mirena...i started to get Hidradenitis Suppurativa. I take hot baths daily. I run a bath and add tea tree oil...then empty the tub and use a sulfur based soap *it says to let it dry* then I run the bath again as hot as I can stand and add bleach *probably too much bleach* but my skin has cleared up so much its incredible. I don't drink sweet drinks. Water only and coffee occasionally. I went from having 10-20 boils and lesions to just little specks that I'm guessing are scarring. I know it sounds like a lot but I was fed up. I also apply a sulfur cream, and tea tree oil directly to the spot. It's all super cheap. I spend less than $10 for all of it and it lasts a month. I only bathe like this 2 times a week...but I use tea tree oil and sulfur every day. Hope this helps :) oh...and I stay naked unless I absolutely need clothes...to keep dry...but I live in arizona...so it ain't no thang. LOL! Good luck!

Yara's HS Treatment Plan

Posted by Mt (Ottawa, Ontario) on 03/23/2014

Look for GAPS diet on you tube (Natasha Campbell). Your friend needs to improve his immune system. He needs a liver detox -look into Dandelion root tea. Apply either smashed garlic, Manuka honey, charcoal or Propolis on the boils.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 11/05/2013

Eliza, read up on turmeric for boils.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Louwrence (Rusteburg, South Africa) on 11/06/2013

Hi Eliza, Grind epsom salts fine in a coffee grinder then add glycerine so that it is a paste & put the paste on the hole, it might burn a bit but it draws the junk out.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Gavin (Northland, New Zealand) on 11/07/2013

The extra vigin coconut oil, has been a great stopper for boils.The one that had started to develop just turned into a zit after about five days of application.The stuff just slowly goes into the whole area and kills the bug...well worth a try! .I use it to stop jock rash by applying it once every other day.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Arlene ( Bahrain) on 05/12/2015

Put manuka honey UMF 20+ and cover it with an aloe vera antiseptic band aid..

Avoiding Chemical Allergies

Posted by Anonymous (Holland) on 06/14/2013
★★★★★

Like many, I suffered from HS since puberty (so now about 10 years). I only went to the doctor once as a teen, this was quite traumatic as she simply told me I wasn't keeping myself clean. After that I started showering multiple times a day which caused the infections to get so bad I couldn't even walk. Now I know I'm extremely allergic to synthetic parfum and sulfates (also suspecting benzoates). I can't have it in anything, even if I wear clothes that've been washed with a 'wrong' detergent I'll break out within the hour. However, when I avoid bad soaps I'm 100% healthy (skinwise). Dietwise I eat mostly organic with much fruits and veggies and no porc, little sugar etc.. So I'm not sure if I would have infections again if I'd eat unhealthy. BUT I do smoke, drink coffee and alchohol, which doesn't seem to have any (negative) influence whatsoever.

Coconut Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 04/10/2013
★★★★★

Im reporting back on a boil that ive had reacuring on my back since last sepember, it flared up again so for three days I began putting a blob of coconut oil on a dressing and pushed it into the boil and left it there for twenty four hours, Then changed the dressing, every twenty four hours thereafter.. The third day I put some Apple Cider Vinegar on the coconut oil, it absorbed a certain amount, and used this for the next seven days, I knew the Apple Cider Vinegar was in the coconut oil because the bloody discharge although just a spot or two was black, (it turns blood black).. After about ten days. (Yesterday) the area was flat and no discharge, in fact it looks normal. I'll keep it up for a few days longer just to be on the safe side. The coconut oil by itself seems to work but the Apple Cider Vinegar is a logical boost, as it cures so many things on the surface. I think the coconut oil acts as a carrier for the acv. But it needs a few days constant application to work its way down to the root of the infection.

I dont know whether this was HS but the symptoms seem to sugest it was. If any one seems to get a recuring boil it might be worth a try and would be greatfull for another person reporting back on its efficacy.

The dressing was just clean absorbent toilet tissue, with eclectric tape top and bottom with a strip down the middle to stop the oil coming through onto clothing. Changed every 24 hours.

Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Alicia (Utica, Ny) on 03/03/2013
★★★★☆

Hi, I have been suffering with hs for 12 years. I hit puberty at age 13 and I am going to be 25 this month, so yeah, 12 years. I have had surgery to my left groin area due to hs, I had an abcess that lasted nearly 2 months, the surgein went in and cleared out all of the scar tissue, my incision was 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches deep into my leg. That was the area I got my first boil in. I had recurring abcesses there maybe 10- 15 times throughout my life up until the surgery. No more boils there since then but I have had them on the opposing leg and also my butt cheeks. I have seen dermatologists, they just want to give out scripts that literally do nothing. I have found that rubbing alcohol to the area up to 4 times a day I put it on. I apply it with a q tip. I see or feel one starting now and I begin the regimen of putting it on several times a day. I have seen them disappear in two days at times. Warm baths only have ever soothed it for me, not fixed it. I think its worse when on birth control though. I did not get a flare up for months and thought well I will get back on birth control and oh my body decides to grant me two boils at once, that's my favorite... Not. This condition flat out sucks, it does, but the rubbing alcohol does help, for me anyway, there have been studies saying a tablespoon of bleach in your bath once a week helps, this is only a clinical trial though.

From what I have read there are no cures for this condition but things we can do to help prevent and treat them. In personal experience when I put my snug form fitting leggings and jeans and tights on it makes it worse, when I exercise and eat well it gets better. When I was pregnant with both of my children ther were no signs of boils, it was the longest consecutive period of time I have gone without them, two days after I had my first son I got three abcesses. It made a very happy time depressing and painful, but I have done a ton of research and have been examined by several very good doctors and dermatologists and surgeons and I have learned alot about this condition, my mother had it also, for a short time, and my sister. It has gotten better with my age, I am used to living with it now. Don't be depressed, its ok and there are many of us out there. Any questions and feel free to ask. I have only had one flare up in about 6 months, I took care of it and it was gone in about 2 days with the rubbing alcohol trick;) hope this helps.

P. S. I never write on these things but this was totally worth my time because I know how alone you feel sometimes due to this, I have been there.

Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 03/04/2013

I had something similar on my back, and used acetone ie. nail polish remover. It seems to kill the bug even if the boil isnt opened you can feel it stinging and doing its thing. Acetone is handled by the body quite well, in fact the body produces it. Just a thought? but alchohol is good, for killing bugs.

Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 08/22/2017

Puja, read up on turmeric (haldi, I think) for this.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Katyast (Vancouver, Bc, Canada) on 03/01/2013

I have had Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) since puberty, so around 20 years. I have only been diagnosed in 2011 after countless doctors and visits.

My HS is stage 2-3 (I luckily do not have that many tracts yet). At first my HS started on my face, I would get a cyst on my nose or beside. My entire face would swell to the point of closing my eye shut. I lived with HS on my face for the first 13 years. Within the last 7 years my HS now flares up in my armpits, breasts, stomache, groin, anal entry and inside my vagina and sometime on my legs.

My worst cases:

My left armpit. I had one cysts that opened with 3 holes about the diameter of a pencil eraser, eventually they turned into one hole that I could fit a stack of 5 quarters neatly into, I could see my muscle.

My right breast (cleavage area). I had one cyst that pussed and was open for 2 years and was very foul smelling. It would seem to go away, and then it would flare larger right before menses.

My right thigh. This one just happened 2 days ago. Within 3 days I went from no cyst to a cyst the size of a softball. It was highly infected (heat, inflamed, red) and extremely painful. I had a low grade fever as well. When it burst (mine almost always do) I drained out over a 1/4 cup of pus. Within 2 days the hole has closed.

What I currently do to treat. For all of these cysts no medication has worked. What worked was, frequent cleansing with Hydrogen Peroxide. If the cyst is starting to collect pus again, I lift off scab, squeeze to drain out some of the pus and cleanse with hydrogen peroxide. Give the wound some air time. I use no bandaging if possible for two reason (my skin is sensitive, wherever the bandage lays on my skin, when the bandage is taken off, it peels my skin off as well leaving open wounds around the cyst. I also have psoriasis, and any cuts or scrapes will turn into psoriasis or inflame the cysts. The second reason I do not use bandages is the closed cyst will not heal and infection will get worse (I guess it just festers under the bandages).

For the cyst on my boob, hydrogen peroxide as well as M___'s Clarifying Cleanser (acne treatment) used daily worked. The cleanser is a facial cleanser. In desperation I tried this on my breasts and the open cyst closed within days, not weeks or months or another year. A cyst has yet to reactivate in this spot which is a scar now. This cleanser seems to work on many of my cysts that take longer to heal, especially around the boob area. They also have a good skin daily vitamin and if you sign up for the auto shipment you get wicked deals. I have used their acne body wash with no effect, but this face cleanser packs a powerful punch. This cyst was open for two years and was quite foul smelling, I tried all treatments in this time. And I highly recommend their facial cleansers/systems, they work wonders.

There is currently a clinical trial taking place for Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Go to clinicaltrials.gov to find clinical locations near you. They are studying if Adalimumab is an effective treatment.

Try to gain access to the medical site PubMed. There are over 800 medical articles on HS. I am currently trying to read through these. Some of the info I have found:

Adalimumab which is used to treat psoriatic arthritis has been shown to help with HS.

Overweight and smoking can effect HS.

Some people find white vinegar baths effective to control HS.

HS may be an autoimmune disease and thought to be linked to crohns' disease and graves disease.

It is easier to treat HS in the first stage. People with stage 3 should seek medical attention for their disease.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa usually flares up each month for women before or durring their menses due to hormone levels.

looking online, there seems to be much discussion on diet. People that have limited refined foods/carbs, dairy, sugar seem to be able to control their HS. Many HS sufferers seem to have positive results following the Paleo diet.

As my HS flares up before my menses or when I am stressed, I know hormones play a big role in my HS. As there is much speculation that HS is an autoimmune disease and has been linked to crohns and can cause psoriatic arthritis- I plan on looking further into diet. There is much info on diets to control inflammation, exzema, psoriasis which I think might also help HS.

If anyone has experimented with food to treat Hidradenitis Suppurativa, please share your experiences.

Iodine

Posted by Claudi0 (Spring Hill, Florida) on 02/19/2013
★★★★★

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.

General Feedback

Posted by April (Killeen, Tx, Usa) on 01/24/2013

I have been living with HS for a little over a year though I was being misdiagnosed with Staph. My boyfriend found this site for me, and I have been pouring into all the information I can about HS. I feel a glimmer of hope that I could live with this. Before last October I didn't have health insurance. Everytime I would get another boil I'd go the hospital they would never help me or really even care. And even now, I have been to a million doctors, many of who do not believe my pain and could never help me. All they would do is pump me with antibiotics which made me sooo sick! But I just got surgery on my right underarm because I had about 3 lumps there for several months. It's been about a month since the surgery and it's been healing nicely. I have had several occurences before that in my underarms and groin area. Today I realised one of my old areas is getting inflammed once again. It's just really hard. I can't go to work alot because I am in so much pain. I feel sick constantly and I'm always super exhausted. I just want my life back. However, now that I found this site and with all of your suggestions I feel like maybe I can start figuring my life out. If anyone of you have any other suggestions, please let me know! I am willing to try anything! Also, I will update again soon because I'm going to start the Turmeric and will be getting a food allergey test soon. I'm just really happy that I have found some answers, and I'm really just trying to stay positive. It is just all so stressful.... Anyway, thank you all so much for sharing your stories. And hope everyone is doing well! =)

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Suz (Highlands Ranch, Co) on 01/16/2013
★★★★★

My Mom had H.S., but had no diagnosis back in the '70's. Instead, her doc sent her to a shrink, which about humiliated her! Now my 32 year old daughter has it. She has special needs, so I tend to her needs in this area, so I am always trying new things and read whatever I can find about H.S.... She has it mainly in her underarms. I never shave her, instead I buzz cut her underarms with a personal shaver. Never use any deodorants, instead I wash her affected areas with clear bath water, thoroughly dry her and clean her with antibacterial wet wipes. It seems to work, 'cuz I never smell any odors and her outbreaks are few. I feed her fresh pineapple almost daily as I read it has great benefits for the skin. I also add fresh strawberries as often as I can. In addition, I give her a probiotic daily and Omega 3 in the form of chewable gummies... Her clothes and bedding are 100% cotton. I try to watch that she doesn't sweat and keep her as calm as possible. When the occasional outbreak does occur, I use lots of wet warm compresses and follow up with Neosporin with pain relief. She has been on Clindamycin topical solution 2x per day for several years and it works great for her with no side effects. She only sleeps in sleeveless nighties. When there is an outbreak, I do not put a bra on her and always keep her clothing loose... I watch her caffeine and sugar intake. She is always in a smoke-free environment. When she has the occasional flare-up, I treat it like the inflammation that it is and administer 4oo mg Ibuprofen as needed. I hope some of these ideas help some of you... GOOD LUCK ;-)

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Abe From Sc (Saint Matthews, South Carolina) on 12/07/2012
★★★★★

Tea tree oil for hidranitis.

Zinc, Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Vanita (Columbus, Georgia) on 10/28/2012
★★★★★

I have found that for HS tea tree oil helps alot and taking extra zinc supplements!

Turmeric, Liver Cleanse

Posted by Melissa (In, Michigan) on 07/28/2012
★★★★★

Hi, like most of you on here I have been suffering from HS for about 10 years. Like most of you I have endured it silently. I get them in groin area, armpits and weirdly enough only under left breast. I have seen a few doctors but they say its an infection and give me antibiotics. They can become sooo painful all you can do is cry. I highly believe in holistic medicine and decided to treat them with tea tree oil. I found tea tree just wasn't enough so I added lemon oil to the mix. This seemed to help them clear up much faster but I would still get outbreaks. I did notice though that there wasn't a bad smell when they burst. This is because tee tree kills bacteria. I also have pcos and insulin resistence. I am also a smoker which doesn't help.

So fed up I did some research and discovered turmeric. I started mixing it with almond milk, cinnamon and honey. It tastes really good. I noticed my outbreaks lessened and when I did get anything the pain would be gone within a day or two and then it would drain. I no longer really get any in my groin mostly now just under left breast. It makes me sad all the scars and deep purple scars it has left behind. Time does lessen the appearance and I also use rose water to help with the scars. I have been using an essential oil liver cleanse which has helped tremendously. It's peppermint oil and lemon oil cleanse. You use it by adding one drop of each in a cup of distilled water and I squeeze a half lemon in it and drinking it first thing in the morning. The peppermint does wonders by cooling the inflammation and the lemon helps cleanse and alkalanize the ph in body. It gives me more energy and cleans liver at the same time. I also just started using black cumin oil. I don't know how much it is helping yet since I have just started using it a few days ago.

About a week ago I went to the movies and ate salty buttery popcorn and halfway through the movie I noticed a very painful little friend just popped up in groin area. The next morning I drank my cleanse and poof it popped and drained that day. They used to last weeks. I also just noticed a bright red one that appeared under breast but without any pain. I have been putting Turmeric directly on it and it's gone already. It's amazing what these treatments have done for me. Yes I still break out but the pain isn't there anymore at least not nearly as bad as it used to be, no smell, and they go away sooo quickly. Oh and I had a bad one under breast a few weeks ago and I treated it and the pain went away but the lump didn't bt it also didn't spread. Then about one week ago I noticed it felt wet under breast and it had popped and was draining. I didn't even know it was still there. No pain or anything.

I hope this can help some of you. I have read others posts about mixing turmeric with warm water and drinking it but gross. Mixing it with cinnamon and milk makes it tastes almost like chai tea. I really enjoy the taste. I haven't needed it though for awhile since I began the liver cleanse.

Calendula Oil, Turmeric

Posted by Susan (League City, Texas) on 07/19/2012
★★★★☆

Hi, I just had to share some of the success I have found in managing this chronic ailment. I have increased my tumeric to 2000 mg, split morning and evening, lost some weight, clean areas with, the female wipes, apply emu oil, here is the kicker, Calendula Oil. I saw the recipe on Martha, but if you don't want to wait for the 4 weeks of infusion. I did buy a bottle, 29$ for like 8 ounces. I got it from farmaesthetics. I went on amazon and got dried Calendula petals, and made my own. I hope my batch turns out well, it comes out of the pantry on Sunday. I am Loving It!! Hope this benefits others that struggle every day like I do. Take Care

Zinc Gluconate

Posted by Mariapkane (Eatonville, Wa.) on 11/10/2014

I used a LED-UV light for 5 minutes and within 24 hours, the boil popped. I also used Ichthammol Ointment prior to using the LED-UV light (from an Auto-Leak-Detection Kit), and also am taking zinc and Turmeric. After the boil popped by itself I put Neosporin with a bandage on the boil.