You can't prevent hidradenitis suppurativa from happening in the first place, because some of the reasons you get the condition, such as genetics, aren't in your control. But when you live with HS, there are certain measures you can take to help lower your risk of flares so you have less pain, inflammation, and discomfort from your disease.
Protect Your Skin
These measures can not only help ward off flares before they start, but also care for the skin that's already dealing with lumps and sores.
Address your sweat. HS lumps are most common in areas where skin rubs together – which is also where sweat tends to gather, clog pores, and make symptoms worse. As best you can, avoid activities that make you overheat. Opt for indoor workouts such as swimming,
and keep your house cool. If you're still struggling with sweat after taking these steps, ask your doctor about prescription medications that can help reduce sweat.
Stay cool. The cooler you can stay throughout the day, the less likely you are to sweat and flare. One way to do this is to wear loose layers. Loose clothing is important so that you avoid the friction of tight waistbands and fabrics on your skin. Wearing tight clothing can also help trigger HS symptoms and make them more severe. Breathable clothing made of natural fiber like cotton is best for letting air in and heat out.
Keep clean. Regular bathing with antibacterial soap helps prevent some clogs and reduce the risk of infection. Avoid scrubbing your skin when you wash, which can irritate your skin. Keep your products fragrance-free, too. The scents in some soaps and deodorants can also irritate skin with HS.
Foods to Eat and Avoid
You can't cure HS with a special diet, but research shows that some foods may have an effect on symptoms in some people. Because HS is an inflammatory condition, it's a good idea to plan your meals around anti-inflammatory choices.
Foods that can make inflammation in the body worse include:
- Highly processed foods with additives, such as prepackaged meals, canned soups, hot dogs, and sugary cereals
- Dairy foods such as ice cream, whole milk, cheese, and heavy cream
- Simple sugar options like pastries, candy, and soda
Some people with HS can be sensitive to certain foods. Eating these foods can cause inflammation and worsen HS symptoms. Common culprits include:
- Gluten
- Alcohol
- Brewer's yeast
Talk to your doctor about whether you should try an elimination diet to see how you react to certain foods. You'll stop eating these foods for at least two weeks and see if there's any change in how severe your HS is.
It's helpful during this time period to keep a food diary or journal. Track what you eat as well as your HS symptoms and look for patterns.
Foods that may help lower inflammation in your body are also helpful for many other reasons. One way to adopt a lower-inflammation style of eating is to follow a Mediterranean diet. This diet focuses on plant-based foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats, such as:
- Beans
- Olive oil
- Fruits and vegetables
- Fish and chicken
- Whole grains
These foods help balance your gut bacteria and boost certain micronutrients such as zinc and B12, all of which can help with HS symptoms in some people.
Another way to reduce inflammation? Keep your blood sugar levels in check. Doctors aren't sure exactly how, but HS and diabetes seem to be related. Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods (fruits, vegetables), and pair those with foods high in proteins (fish, eggs). Spread small meals throughout your day to keep a steady glucose level in your blood instead of spiking it with fewer bigger meals.
Everyday Living Tips
Some other ways you can address HS and limit flares include:
Get your vitamin D. Studies on people with HS show they're over five times more likely to not have enough vitamin D than people without HS. Other studies show that the higher your vitamin D levels, the lower your number of HS flares and the less severe your disease is.
Your body gets vitamin D in two ways: through diet and by making it through sun exposure. When UV rays hit your skin, it triggers the process for making vitamin D in your body. Most people get enough sun by doing normal daily activities, but older adults and people with darker skin get less vitamin D this way.
You can also raise vitamin D levels by eating foods high in it, including:
- Cod liver oil
- Trout
- Salmon
- Vitamin D-fortified milk
- Mushrooms
- Vitamin D-fortified cereals
A vitamin D supplement may help you meet your vitamin D goals. Talk to your doctor before you start any supplements.
Assess your weight. If you're overweight or obese, you're more likely to be insulin resistant. This means your body can't regulate blood sugar as well as it needs to, and you're at risk of hormonal changes that can impact HS symptoms.
Weight goals are different for different people. Talk to your doctor about whether losing weight could make a difference in your HS, and to find healthy strategies for doing so.
Stop smoking. Using tobacco is linked to HS, so if you stop smoking, it will reduce your chances of HS flares. Nicotine is an addictive substance, so quitting will take some help. Talk to your doctor about programs that provide support and advice for cutting out smoking from your life.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: RuslanDashinsky/Getty Images
SOURCES:
Canadian Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation: "Identifying 7 Hidradenitis Suppurativa Triggers and Effective Avoidance Strategies."
Cleveland Clinic: "Hidradenitis Suppurativa Diet: Foods To Eat and Avoid."
Nutrients: "The Role of Nutrition in Immune-Mediated, Inflammatory Skin Disease: A Narrative Review."
Skin Appendage Disorders: "Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Five Key Vitamins and Minerals."
National Institutes of Health: "Vitamin D."
