HAVENLY HOME REMEDIES
Below is a list of remedies that have helped myself and others. I hope you find something here that will help you with your HS.
REMEMBER TO USE CAUTION AND ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR OWN MEDICAL ADVISOR BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING NEW
I personally have found great relief with two things that most of us use in our own homes everyday.
Baking Soda - To Wash With in the Shower or at the Sink, and to use as a Deodorant
Clorox - to soak in the tub with
DO NOT MIX THE TWO TOGETHER!!!!
When I first had my Pilonidal Cyst removed I was told to soak in a hot tub of water with 2 tablespoons of Clorox in the water for 4 x a day 20 minutes at a time, you could see the infection float around you. The same goes with the Hidradenitis Suppurativa. After my HS started I asked my Surgeon if this would also be OK to do with the lumps and knots, and he said yes. It helps the HS tremendously.
I Do Not Recommend This For Anyone Else
You Should Ask Your Own Medical Advisor About The Above.
Those that are Allergic to Chlorine, or Clorox Products should not try this!!
I also use Baking Soda, my armpits have always been very bad, and even if the HS is not active the odor is still very pungent. The Doctor told me to use Baking Soda for Deodorant. So I use a powder puff I bought and apply the Baking Soda to my under arms as Deodorant. It has worked for 20 years.
I also use the Baking Soda to wash the HS lesions with. I put the Baking Soda directly on my Wash cloth and gently wash my lesions with them, this helps so much with the itching and also helps to dry the lesions up. Be very careful when washing with the Baking Soda, you have to wash very gently. I have made warm compresses with the Baking Soda and put them on my HS lumps also, they help to ease them. This has worked for me anyway.
Many people including myself (for many years) have found relief using plain old Rubbing Alcohol on their HS sites before it starts to drain. I rub them daily and some never become the big draining baseball size, but then some still do, but I have found that it does help, and other people have reported this also.
Manuka Honey http://www.manukahoney.com/
Many people say they find relief from the HS by using this. They rub it on the HS knots. Learn more about it at the above Link
Tea Tree OIL
I think a lot of us use this, if you are not allergic to it. If you buy the pure 100% Tea Tree Oil you must dilute it before using it. Test to make sure you are not allergic to it. You can buy this at Wal-Mart, Sally's, and other places.
Other things that people have tried
Anti-bacterial Soaps
Topical Anti-biotics
Topical over the counter ointments
Ice or a bag of frozen peas for the swelling (must be careful) wrap bag in a cloth.
Sea Salt
Vitamin E creams
Some kind of itching cream over the counter, if you have the itching with the HS.
Updated 10/9/06
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