Diet is an essential part of healing hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). In general, you want to avoid inflammatory foods such as grains, cow’s dairy, sugar, and refined vegetable oils.
However, supplements can also be very helpful. In this video, I’m going to talk about some of my top supplement recommendations for hidradenitis suppurativa.
Enjoy the video!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the professional advice of your physician or other licensed health care provider. Never avoid, disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice, or change any of your prescribed medical treatments because of something you have read on this blog. If you try any therapies or recommendations discussed on this blog, you do so at your own risk.
Are there any multivitamin that you recommend for someone with
HS?
Thank you
Hi, Maria!
We recommend our Strategic Nutrients. It’s very absorbable and uses the active forms of nutrients to ensure effectiveness. Thanks for your question!
Do you ever test VEGF in relation to HS? If so, do you tend to see lowered VEGF in HS patients? Would resveratrol lower VEGF even further? Thank you!
Hi, Lalae –
I don’t typically test VEGF in my HS patients because it’s very expensive to order and it doesn’t change my treatment approach. I’m always looking for the underlying reasons why a person is experiencing their health issues. With that being said, we’ve found that many people with HS have a history of toxic mold exposure, and VEGF is also abnormal in people with mold toxicity. So I do order mold (mycotoxin) testing for my HS patients.
Hey.,.. I’m not sure it’s HS but I’m having really bad problems with ingrown hairs on my legs… my leg hair is light and fine but these ingrown hairs are thick and black, looks like man hairs. And they are causing multiple sores and my legs stay inflamed. You have to pull these out and when you do they are long or like a cork screw plus they itch all the time which scratching is making matters worse. Docs keep telling me it’s atopic dermatitis but I know it’s more than that. Call sing swelling too. The skin is Ted and thick looking and vsry scaley. Amy suggestions. It started about a year ago after working on some moldy flooring due to heavy water damage
Hi, Vicky –
I am sorry to hear about what you’ve been dealing with. It sounds very uncomfortable and I can only imagine how this has impacted your life. While I can’t diagnose you over the internet, the things you describe remind me of ‘eruptive vellus hair cysts.’ Your exposure to a water-damaged environment is very significant, because toxins from mold and other microbes can trigger inflammation (and skin lesions in particular!). Please see my blog post about mold illness: https://bit.ly/3afJdF0
Hello I have a 13 year African American daughter that was just recently diagnosed with this.she was also diagnosed with PCOs besides antibiotics what natural supplements can I give her to assist with these painful lesions she gets them under her breast. Please help.
Hi, Chardae –
I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. I recognize the emotional toll these conditions can have on a young woman’s confidence.
There is a strong connection with HS and PCOS because both of them are rooted in inflammation and insulin resistance. Please watch my other video on this topic if you haven’t done that already: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_W3nK6sGL8
Also, since your daughter is taking antibiotics, it’s important to understand the long-term considerations with those medications. Please watch my video about antibiotics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-OaaGeO0Xk
We have found that long-term use of antibiotics can actually make HS worse over time, so it’s important to work closely with your daughter’s physician to monitor how she’s responding to therapy. You may also want to consider a high-quality probiotic to support a healthy balance of gut bacteria: https://www.helpforhs.com/product/dailyflora-essentials/
For fast support, many people choose our Starter Bundle along with our Nourish eCookbook. The supplements that we offer on our Help for HS website are the same doctor-grade formulas that we use in our clinic.
We’d love to have you join our Help for HS newsletter so that we can send you free tips, updates, and more goodies! (Click here to sign up.)
Sending love to you and your daughter. <3
Very interesting. We did have an issue with mold previously, remediated our home and healed. HS diagnosis was made a couple of years after healing. C4a levels are in a great range now but we’re 11,000+ when we had mold but now VEGF is low again. The low C4a numbers would indicate mold is not a current issue. Would you agree? We followed the shoemaker CIRS protocol.
Very interesting, indeed! You are correct that C4a levels will fall into a healthy range when mold toxicity is no longer an issue. I’m glad you were able to get properly treated for mold; sadly, not many people are aware of this issue.
Thank you so much for this info! Any thoughts on taking astragalus in conjunction w/ resveratrol? Bless you for this! Thank you!
Hi, Helen!
Astragalus can be a great adaptogen for handling stress, but I don’t use it for HS. This is because astragalus has strong immune-stimulating properties and is best used for people who have immune suppression. With HS, many people have immune overstimulation, so astragalus could theoretically increase inflammation.
The vitamins that you listed in your video, what is your recommended dosing of each to help with HS?
Hi, Alicia!
We’re excited to let you know that the same professional formulas that we use in our clinic are now available to the public. To learn more about these supplements, check out our website here: https://www.helpforhs.com/natural-options/
We also have a clickable quick reference guide that may help you decide if any of our supplements are right for you. There are dosing suggestions on each product’s page:
https://www.helpforhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Supplement-Reference-Guide.pdf
I hope this helps, and reach out with any questions you have!
Very good Doctor, this I will try. Thank you!
should you take Resveratrol and ginger together or just one?
I have Hs, pcos,and occasional fever blisters
Hi, Jennifer –
It’s generally safe to combine them. However, I always recommend checking with your personal health care provider to make sure supplements are safe for you. PCOS and HS both respond very well to anti-inflammatory diet changes, especially when refined carbohydrates are reduced. I wish you all the best!
Hi Dr. Biscoe!
I was referred to this video by Jerrica Sweetnich. I have suffered with HS since childhood and have been on Spironolactone & Doxycycline for 10+ YEARS to combat this, but we are discovering it’s affecting my gut. I had no idea there were natural ways to cure HS until she mentioned you and I felt like the heavens opened up! Would you recommend starting with ALL of these supplements? (Not pregnant, planning to be pregnant, etc.) I am also wondering if you would recommend slowly stopping the Spironolactone & Doxy while starting these or cold turkey quitting them. I noticed that another viewer asked about a multivitamin and I was wondering the same thing, so I looked into the link you provided but that multi doesn’t seem to have the supplements you mentioned in this video. Am I mistaken by that or is it in addition to the things you mentioned? Thank you for providing this resource for us and for your time!
Hi, Tessa! I’m so glad the Dr. Sweetnich referred you. She is a dear friend and we went to naturopathic medical school together.
Regarding the supplements, you certainly don’t have to take all of them. Our multivitamin is formulated with the optimal levels of key nutrients such as zinc which are required for healthy skin and many other functions. The other supplements mentioned in the video contain special herbs and other ingredients that support overall balance. Because of the wide range of beneficial ingredients, it would be nearly impossible to include them all in one formula. 🙂
On the Help for HS website, we have the Ultimate Starter Bundle which is the most popular choice that people start with:
https://www.helpforhs.com/product/ultimate-starter-bundle/
For legal and safety reasons, I’m not able to advise you about discontinuing or modifying your medications, but this is an important discussion to have with your physician about the risks and benefits of doing so.
Thank you so much for the kind words; we’re glad that you’ve found the videos and information helpful!
Thank you so much for this response! I will absolutely look into everything you’ve mentioned! 🙂
Can i take all these four supplements (1*4) each day?
Hi, Ananya –
Yes, we typically combine supplements in our clinic, but it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor first. Many people choose our Starter Bundle as a simple way to get started: https://www.helpforhs.com/product/ultimate-starter-bundle/
Thanks for your question! 🙂
Hey, i have had HS since I was 14 and am now 22, I was taking lymcycline for the best part of 7 years and it was keeping my HS under control however now my body has become immune to this antibiotic, my HS is worse than ever, I have been taking a immune support multivitamin which has over 20 different vitamins etc in, should I be taking this? Or what would you recommend.
Hello I am currently taking a immune support multivitamin with over 20 different vitamins in, do you think I should continue taking these or take the vitamins specified in the video? I don’t want to make things any worse than they already are
Hi, Pat –
It sounds like you’re going through a very rough time, and I’m so sorry! 🙁
Your experience is a very common one, and we often see patients who’ve tried antibiotics – only to have them stop working or make the HS worse. We’ve learned that the worsened HS after antibiotics is often due to overgrown yeast (Candida) in the body. The antibiotics kill our healthy gut bacteria, which allows yeast to grow out of control. (See my video about antibiotics and HS). Yeast and fungus drives the inflammation in HS.
In terms of supplements, it’s important to note that multivitamins are only one piece of the puzzle. Yes, it’s very important to have good nutrition, but we use a combination of things to also support a balanced gut and immune system. Quality is also key: most supplements sold online or at the health food store are poor quality, and many of them contain harmful ingredients that aren’t listed on the label.
The best recommendation I can give you is to join our Help for HS community newsletter.
When you sign up, you’ll get our food guide. Then we take you step-by-step through all of the important changes that you can implement to start healing.
As far as supplements go, it’s important to consult with your health care provider first. But we do offer professional-grade formulas that we’ve personally tested. Our Starter Bundle is a very popular choice, and anyone who’s taken antibiotics may benefit from our probiotic.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, and I pray that you find the answers, support and healing that you deserve. <3
Hi,
I’ve had HS for over five years ranging from stage 2-3. Also have gut issues from the antibiotics/ bad diet in the past. Could I add the daily flora with the starter bundle? Or would the strategic nutrients be enough?
Hey, Steph –
Given your past antibiotic use, the DailyFlora could have major benefits for gut health in addition to the Starter Bundle. We get very good feedback from our patients when they start using that formula. Thanks so much for taking the time to write! 🙂
Hi I have just been diagnosed with his and am on antibiotics, is there a diet plan? Food to eliminate and food to eat to help with condition and also thanks for the advice . How much of each supplement do I need to take as in when I have to purchase what mg do I have to take.
Many thanks
Hi!
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I’m also glad that you are being proactive about supporting your ability to heal. Have you seen our Help for HS website? That is where we compile all of the important information and resources. You’ll find information related to diet, skin care, FAQ, and more:
https://www.helpforhs.com/
We also have a Help for HS YouTube channel:
https://bit.ly/386GM51
I encourage you to join our newsletter, because we’re always sharing new updates and helpful tips: https://bit.ly/3aidPpg
In terms of diet, we have a special cookbook and eating guide called Nourish: https://bit.ly/3qU68LQ
It looks like you’re in the UK, and I’m sorry that we aren’t able to ship our supplements internationally at this time. And while I’m not able to give specific information on how much you should take, you may find it helpful to look at the labels on our formulas to get an idea of what would be supportive:
https://www.helpforhs.com/product-category/supplements/
Also, please check out HS Connect. They are a wonderful group of ladies who personally vet the best information, resources and practitioners:
https://www.hsconnect.org/
I hope this helps – thanks for being here! 🙂
Hello, in this video for HS sufferers, you recommend ginger root and resveritol. But in capsule form they come in different dosages/strengths. What Mg amount should I start out with as a daily supplement for ginger root and also resveritol? I have HS & diabetes.
Hi, Frank! For safety reasons I don’t give exact doses online since I don’t know your full medical history. However, we do have our favorite resveratrol supplement available for purchase: https://www.helpforhs.com/product/resveratrol-supreme/
When it comes to ginger, I personally use a 500mg capsule with my own patients and dose it according to their needs (but even using ginger as a tea is very helpful!)
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. 🙂
Dear Dr. Ashley Biscoe,
My whole family suffers from HS. But the reason I’m writing this is that my mom has HS on her upper inter right leg which is painful. The doctors we have here say they can do surgery if we can keep the area dry. Do you have any idea to do that? My mom is over 70 years old and overweight. Please let me know what you think and what we can do. Thank you, Tina Hall.
Hi, Tina –
I’m really sorry that your family has been so deeply impacted by HS. Without knowing all of the details of your mother’s medical history, I’m not able to give specific advice (for legal and safety reasons). Her doctors should be able to provide guidance on how to care for the area to keep it dry. Also, we have had success with many of our patients avoiding surgery and stopping their pain by using the professional products from ManukaMed USA. Have you seen Dr. Egeland’s video? This may be something to discuss with your mom’s doctor.
You can find all of the information on our Help for HS website: https://www.helpforhs.com/skin-care/
Best of luck to you and your mom. She’s lucky to have such a caring daughter! ❤️
Hello Dr. Biscoe and thank you for all your hard work in providing resources for this dreadful skin condition. I was diagnosed with HS in 2017 and it has only effected my inner thighs, under arms, and under my breasts. I do not have any new cysts, but my old ones continuously seep. Any recommendations on whether or not getting those cysts removed would help?
Hi, Sharon!
Thank you for your kind words. In some cases, yes — having the cysts lanced and drained can be very helpful and provide much-needed relief.
Hello Dr. Biscoe,
I am currently taking Humira for my HS and have been taking it for about 4 months now. I haven’t seen that much of a change and it is actually spreading and the paid is really really unbearable to the point where I cant really sit down at time. My question is do you recommend that I keep taking the shot and just give it time or stop the hots and try other things
Hi, Charrondra –
I’m so sorry that you’re going through this! I cannot advise you about whether you should continue or discontinue your medication. However, it has been found in the medical research that if a person has a new flare before week 12 of taking Humira, then there is a very high chance that the person will never have a positive response to the medication.
The results with Humira have been mixed. Have you seen my video on this topic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtdDFBMdACU
We have seen the most success for relieving HS by addressing nutritional and lifestyle factors. If you haven’t already been to our Help for HS website, please check it out and join our newsletter!
Keep persevering, Charrondra. You can heal. ❤️
Hi There! Thank you so much for providing natural solutions to finding healing from HS! I have suffered with HS since I was a little girl. I have been diagnosed with low Vitamin D, and I read somewhere about innate immunity in the skin, and that Vitamin D and Zinc help with this. Is that true?
Also, as far as diet goes, do you recommend eliminating all nightshades (including tomato based products)? I have gut issues as well and constant fatigue/constipation, and I’m desperate for some healthy steps and answers! Thanks for your help, and may God bless you!
Hi, Rachel –
Yes, both zinc and vitamin D are important for the innate immunity of the skin. Retinol (vitamin A from animal foods) is also very important, and copper plays a role in the structural integrity of the skin. Taking too much zinc without balanced copper can be detrimental, so it’s important to take a balanced supplement formula and work with a professional who can test your levels and guide you.
In our experience, nightshades including tomatoes are a “gray area.” They can certainly be a trigger for some, but we haven’t seen this across the board.
We have a few resources that may help you resolve your fatigue and constipation:
1) The Nourish Cookbook, which was specifically written for people with inflammatory conditions like HS
2) The Help for HS newsletter, where we share free tips
3) Our online 8-week Body Bliss program, which addresses the same work that we do with 1-on-1 patients
What we have found working with hundreds of patients is that 90% of people have the same common root causes for their imbalances, regardless of how their symptoms or diagnoses are showing up. So, we designed the Body Bliss program to tackle these common root causes one-by-one and teach you how your body works so that you can take control of your health. It’s a VERY comprehensive program, and you can even order your own functional lab test so it’s very personalized.
I hope you can find your path to healing, and may God bless you, too! 🙂
~Dr. B.