Natural treatment options for hidradenitis suppurativa
Treatment
Try Warm Compresses One of the most effective HS soothers is a compress in the form of a washcloth soaked with very warm water. Put it on affected areas (10 minutes at a time) where pus has built up beneath the skin, says Dr. Unwala. The heat helps pus release all at once, rather than over a longer period.
Vitamins, minerals, and supplements with the most reported literature for positive clinical effects in HS include zinc, vitamin D, and turmeric/curcumin. Preliminary evidence supports the use of Zinc in HS. Zinc has been reported in several studies to significantly decrease disease severity.
Treating hidradenitis suppurativa
Patients who quit smoking or lose extra weight can have fewer HS flare-ups (and sometimes get rid of) hidradenitis suppurativa. If you are overweight, lose weight. For many patients who are overweight and have HS, losing weight can reduce flare-ups and prevent HS from worsening.
Aloe Vera It can moisturize dry skin, soothe sunburns, and ease irritation and itching. It's often added to lotions, creams, and other products. What it does: Although aloe vera hasn't been shown to heal HS wounds, it can help ease pain, thanks to its cooling properties, says Pichardo.
Inflammation, not infection. HS is caused by the immune system generating too much inflammation. HS isn't exactly an “autoimmune disease,” but it is caused by over-activity of the immune system, which causes inflammation. Inflammation in the skin causes the mix of redness, swelling, itching, pain, sores, and drainage.
Advice that dermatologists give their patients
The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa is unknown, but the lumps develop as a result of blocked hair follicles. Smoking and obesity are both strongly associated with hidradenitis suppurativa, and if you're obese and/or smoke it will make your symptoms worse.
Topical antibiotics, such as clindamycin (Cleocin T, Clinda-Derm), are commonly prescribed for mild HS. They can treat infections, reduce inflammation, and prevent new lesions from forming. They may also reduce the odors that can sometimes accompany infection.
Hidradenitis suppurativa appears to be associated with an overall risk of cancer and several specific cancers, such as OCPC, nonmelanoma skin cancer, CNS cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer. This study suggests that more intense cancer surveillance may be warranted in patients with HS.
Because secondary bacterial infection is common with hidradenitis suppurativa, Finney recommends trying moisturizers formulated with probiotics and prebiotics, which are live beneficial bacteria and nutrients for healthy bacteria, respectively, to support skin health on the microbial level.
Here are common factors that can exacerbate HS.
8 Things That Can Make Hidradenitis Suppurativa Worse
Hidradenitis suppurativa appears to be associated with an overall risk of cancer and several specific cancers, such as OCPC, nonmelanoma skin cancer, CNS cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer. This study suggests that more intense cancer surveillance may be warranted in patients with HS.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease in which genetic factors are thought to play a role. Up to 38% of patients with HS report a family history of the disease, and several variations have been identified in the γ-secretase genes in familial cases.
Vitamins, minerals, and supplements with the most reported literature for positive clinical effects in HS include zinc, vitamin D, and turmeric/curcumin. Preliminary evidence supports the use of Zinc in HS. Zinc has been reported in several studies to significantly decrease disease severity.
What causes hidradenitis suppurativa? The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa is unknown, but the lumps develop as a result of blocked hair follicles. Smoking and obesity are both strongly associated with hidradenitis suppurativa, and if you're obese and/or smoke it will make your symptoms worse.
Conclusion: Patients with HS are at increased risk of infertility, particularly females and patients in the 36- to 45-year age group. Physicians should take the additional physiological and psychological burden of infertility among HS patients into account, primarily among female patients at procreative age.