Living With Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Understanding Hidradenitis Suppurativa

It isn’t easy living with a chronic skin condition like hidradenitis suppurativa. Painful cysts develop in areas of your body that produce sweat. These itchy and irritated bumps can break open and leave permanent scars on your skin. While symptoms might feel embarrassing and bothersome, there’s a lot you can do to reduce discomfort and prevent new cysts from forming.

Managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Even though there isn’t a cure for hidradenitis suppurativa, it’s treatable. There are at-home options as well as those prescribed by a healthcare provider, so you have a variety of choices to care for your skin.

Try home remedies

You’ve likely scheduled an appointment with a provider to help you manage this condition. But you have irritating symptoms that can’t wait to receive care. Here’s what you can do at home.

Start by washing your skin with warm water and an antibacterial soap or cleanser. You can place a warm, damp washcloth over the affected area to soothe your skin. When you dry off, apply aloe vera. This will calm any irritating symptoms like itchiness. Choose loose-fitting clothing to avoid fabric rubbing against the affected area.

Should I pop it?

It can be tempting to want to pop hidradenitis suppurativa lumps. But since these cysts form deep within your skin, breaking them open may cause an infection that spreads to your bloodstream. Scarring is also a possibility that may permanently change how an area of your skin looks.

You can prevent these complications by keeping your skin clean and moisturized. Your dermatologist may recommend other scar-removal options like laser surgery, if applicable.

Choose anti-inflammatory foods

The foods you eat can affect your skin, especially with hidradenitis suppurativa. Symptoms are related to inflammation, which is when your immune system targets your hair follicles.

Certain nutrients like zinc and vitamin C are known to be anti-inflammatory (they may help prevent or reduce flare-ups). You can also use the spice turmeric in your morning smoothie or sprinkle it on some vegetables to get its added anti-inflammatory benefit.

Everyone’s body reacts to foods differently, so what triggers (or helps relieve) your symptoms may be different from someone else’s. You can keep a food journal (a list of what you eat each day) to help you monitor what foods could be causing a flare-up.

Talk to a dermatologist

A dermatologist can help you create a skincare plan that’s right for you and your unique needs. They may offer different medications that you can take by mouth, get as an injection or apply directly to your skin. Different procedures are available to drain abscesses or remove cysts if other treatments didn’t do the trick.

Your provider will talk to you about your options, so you can make an informed decision about your health.