Tips & tricks for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)

HS symptoms can be painful, unpredictable, messy, and embarrassing. These tips come from others who have HS and could help you relieve discomfort and promote healing. For starters, avoid stress, get plenty of rest, and try to eat healthy. While these tips may help, be sure to talk to your doctor about anything new you're doing to manage your disease.

How can I help manage abscesses?

Keep the affected area clean by gently washing with antibacterial soap.
Wear loose-fitting and breathable clothing to reduce friction on your skin.
Try not to shave where you have breakouts.
Some patients don’t shave their underarms. Instead, they use an electric trimmer to closely trim the hair.
Other patients make their own deodorant using essential oils like lavender or tea tree.

Tips from others

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Sarah

Cut a raw onion in half and place over abscess. Usually I tape it on the area overnight, but even a few minutes helps!

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Holly

Wear close-fitting, short-like undergarments, made of a breathable material but doesn’t move like biker shorts as underwear. This helps cut down all friction.

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Shelby

Having a hot bath or placing a warm washcloth on the sore spots can really help with the pain, as well as stimulate draining. DO NOT SQUEEZE YOUR SORES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRAIN YOUR OWN ABSCESSES! Believe me, I have learned from experience.

Shelby

For the ladies with groin spots: if you must wear underwear (it’s better to not wear any sometimes), wear breathable cotton boyshorts! They’re adorable and you won’t have to deal with the fabric cutting into your sore spots anymore.

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Lee

Blow dry after showers instead of towel dry.

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Tudy

Only use soaps and deodorants that are fragrance-free.

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Epris

For me, an aluminum-free deodorant wasn't enough. I whipped up a homemade baking soda deodorant. Plenty of recipes on the internet!

Jess

Inserting a feminine hygiene pad between a lesion, with the adhesive side to your clothing. The pad is absorbent, keeps a lesion covered and clean, allows it to breathe, stays in place, and a thin pad is seamless under a t-shirt. Helps your laundry, too.

Misty

I think using a spray that has antiseptic + aloe & pain reliever all in one helps the skin stay soft & supple so it doesn't break down anymore and leaves less scars, too! Tea tree oil is also wonderful stuff!

How do I manage inflammation?

Apply warm compresses or a warm washcloth to help reduce swelling.
Put a hot tea bag that's been steeped for a minute on the painful abscess or nodule.
Try ice or a cold compress for localized pain.
Bathe with antibacterial soap and use hypoallergenic products.
Use baby washes and lotions that will be gentle on your skin.

TIPS FROM OTHERS

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Amanda

I read that organic spearmint tea helped with cystic acne...which, at the time, I believed I had under my arms...I began drinking any "organic" tea with spearmint leaves in it at least once a day...a lot of my inflammation and pain was relieved.

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Katie

An antiseptic body wash helps prevent breakouts on a daily basis. After going through my initial treatment for mild HS, I use it every day and I haven't had many breakouts since!

Dayanara

I use African Black Soap and also Indian Hemp with Vetiver soap for inflammation therapy.

Jeanette

Epsom Salt warm water bath – soak until water turns cold. I try to do twice a day or at least once a day. I know, who has time for a bath? You make time with HS.

Cassie

I started eating a paleo diet—free of nightshades like potatoes, peppers, eggplant, and paprika—and avoiding things that come with potato starch as an additive, like shredded cheese or fast-food meats.

Carolyn

When my lesions first start I use Tea Tree oil to help with the pain. It also helps with the swelling and decreases the inflammation at the site.

How can I care for my lesions at home?

Always keep your lesions and abscesses clean.
Use clean petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. This keeps it from drying out and forming a scab.
Cover the skin with an adhesive bandage. If your skin is sensitive to adhesives, try a non-adhesive gauze pad with paper tape.
Change your bandage daily to keep the wound clean while it heals.
To help avoid scars, apply sunscreen to the wound after it heals. You can reduce red or brown discoloration, which will help the scar fade faster.
If you have more questions about healing wounds, speak to your dermatologist.

TIPS FROM OTHERS

Laura

When taking a shower, get a face cloth and use hot water, then press and hold it on bump area for a few minutes. It will help circulation of blood. For buttocks I suggest just use soap that says antibacterial.

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Molly

When a flare-up appears, pad the flare-up with dressings to avoid friction.

Kate

I use an over-the-counter disinfectant and antiseptic wash or skin cleanser, like chlorhexidine, on the affected areas.

Don

Mine is located in my buttocks and groin area. When they are hurting, I find that a heating pad helps with the pain and helps them to pop faster.

Telisa

If you're like me, then even paper tape can cause skin tears and irritation. So, I've learned to use elastic bandage wraps to secure sterile pads over my lesions/abscesses.

Nicole

Using peroxide and antibacterial soap helps me. Cotton is my go-to clothing. I use a first-aid antiseptic/pain-relieving cleaner twice on sores to help kill bacteria and aid in healing. Be patient and bathe daily.

What lifestyle changes can help with signs and symptoms of HS?

Lose weight, which may decrease the number of areas where your skin rubs together. In between your skin folds there can be friction and increased sweat. Your weight loss won't cure HS, but it may relieve some of your symptoms.
Get more exercise. For starters, it will help you lose weight. You might also just feel better about yourself.
Eat healthy. Again, eating healthier foods will help you lose weight. Try to avoid processed and fried foods and instead add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet.
Avoid stress. Though it's not always easy, try to create a more stress-free environment for yourself. Consider meditation, or just 15 minutes of quiet time for yourself. A calmer you might calm your symptoms.
Quit smoking. This isn't the first time you've heard this: there are no benefits to smoking and all kinds of health benefits for stopping.

TIPS FROM OTHERS

Jennifer

I was told to take zinc tablets daily and try a low-sugar/low-carb diet. Losing weight seemed to help. Also, stay out of jacuzzies!

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Daniel R.

I have suffered with HS for 20 years now. I have pinpointed that the nightshade type of foods seem to be my trigger. The main one being potatoes. Once I removed all sources of potatoes from my life, I have had NO break outs since! Please try for 30 days.

Lauren

Try to refrain from eating "nightshades" (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant...basically anything with a little leaf hat).

Rachel

Increase your fruits and veggies and decrease your meats. I stay away from meats with added hormones, steroids, and preservatives as I think these will add more inflammation to the body.

Natasha

I'm the opposite on pants. I wear tight (but of course breathable) yoga pants or leggings to prevent my legs from rubbing together and irritating any sores I may have.