Top 7 Effective Homeopathic Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic skin condition in which small, inflamed painful lumps form under the skin. The lumps can break open and release fluid or pus that can have an offensive smell. The tunnels can also form under the skin from connection of these lumps. This skin condition usually occurs in areas where the skin tends to rub together like in armpits, the area under breast or groin (the crease area where the upper part of the thigh and the lower part of the abdomen meet). This condition is also known as acne inversa. It is a non – contagious condition which means it doesn’t spread through direct skin to skin contact.

Homeopathy proves highly successful in managing cases of hidradenitis suppurativa. Homeopathic medicines work naturally in these cases to help to heal the lumps, reduce pain and clear off the associated pus discharge. These medicines are prepared from naturally occurring substances and hence are very safe to use. In conventional mode, antibiotics, pain killers and steroids are used for cases of hidradenitis suppurativa. In severe cases, this mode recommends surgical intervention. This treatment offers short-term relief and can have side effects as well. But in homeopathy, the results are long- lasting that too without any side effects.

Homeopathy boost self – healing mechanism

Homeopathy stimulates body’s own healing mechanism in the body to promote natural recovery in cases of hidradenitis suppurativa. For this homeopathic medicines are prescribed following individualized approach. This means the medicine for every case of hidradenitis suppurativa is selected depending on the signs and symptoms peculiar to every case. This well-selected individualized medication serves great help in dissolving the cysts and lumps by working on the internal body system for long-term recovery.

Effective for acute / chronic cases

Homeopathic treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa helps in healing the lumps, nodules, cysts and boils in acute cases as well as chronic cases. These medicines also work in treating the recurrent tendency of skin lesions. Though homeopathy takes a few months’ time for proper and complete healing as it brings results gradually, but it is a great alternative treatment option due to its high effectivity, long-lasting results and lack of any side effects. It is to be noted that homeopathy is recommended for mild to moderate cases of hidradenitis suppurativa. But in severe and complicated cases of hidradenitis suppurativa, it has limitations and here it is advised to take help from conventional mode of treatment.

Safe natural medicine

Homeopathy uses highly diluted medicines prepared from naturally-occurring substances to treat cases of hidradenitis suppurativa. Such medicines never cause any side effects and are thus considered 100% safe to use. These work in the gentlest way treating the condition in a harmless manner.

Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines for Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Homeopathy offers a very effective treatment for complaints of hidradenitis suppurativa. These medicines also work in treating the recurrent tendency for skin lesions of this complaint. These medicines help to heal the lumps, reduce the pain and clear off the pus discharges. These medicines are prepared from naturally occurring substances and hence are very safe to use without any side effects. 

1. Silicea – Leading Medicine for Cyst, Boils, Lumps in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Silicea is a top-listed medicine for treating cases of hidradenitis suppurativa. It is very effective to treat boils, lumps, and cysts under the skin. In case of boils, it is indicated when there is pus discharge that can be slight or excessive. It is also indicated when there is thin watery discharge or brownish discharge. The discharge is very offensive where this medicine is required.

When to use Silicea?

Silicea is the most frequently prescribed medicine to manage lumps, boils with pus discharge in cases of hidradenitis suppurativa.

How to use Silicea?

The most commonly used potency of Silicea is 6X. Silicea 6X can be used three to four times per day depending on the intensity of the problem

2. Hepar Sulph – For Painful Boils in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

This is a very beneficial medicine for painful boils. The pain may be throbbing or beating type. The pain tends to get worse at night. There is much inflammation, heat and swelling over the boils. In cases needing it, the pus discharge from boils is blood-stained and very offensive. A person needing it may have a tendency to develop acne (pimples). These are often filled with pus.

When to use Hepar Sulph?

Hepar Sulph is an excellent medicine for managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa with boils that have marked pain especially throbbing or beating type that gets worse at night.

How to use Hepar Sulph?

It can be used in different potencies from low to high as per severity of the complaint, however initially it is advised to use this medicine in 30C potency once or twice a day.

3. Myristica – To Speed up Recovery of Boils

Myristica is a natural medicine that proves very useful to help cases of Hidradenitis Suppurativa for healing of boils. It has a well-known action of hastening the process of pus formation and expulsion that cut short the healing time aiding quick recovery in cases of boils. Surgical intervention is often prevented by timely use of this medicine in these cases.

When to use Myristica?

Myristica is the best medicine to speed up the process of pus formation and expulsion in boils resulting in quick recovery in cases of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

How to use Myristica?

Myristica is usually used in 30C potency that can be taken once or twice a day.

4. Belladonna – For Boils in Initial Stage with Redness, Heat and Swelling

This medicine is indicated in initial stages when there are boils with redness, heat and swelling. The affected skin area is also sensitive to touch.  Another peculiar indication to use this medicine is recurrent and periodical boils that recur every year specifically in spring season.

When to use Belladonna?

The use of this medicine should be considered for boils in the early stages with redness, heat and swelling occurring in Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

How to use Belladonna?

This medicine can be used in low 30C potency once or twice a day. It can also be used in 200C potency but not more than once a day.

5. Calcarea Sulph – For Boils with Thick Yellow Pus Discharge

It is another helpful medicine for treating boils in Hidradenitis Suppurativa cases. In cases needing it there is presence of thick yellow pus discharge. This medicine offers help in both acute cases and as well as chronic cases. It also helps to treat one’s tendency to have recurrent boils.

When to use Calcarea Sulph?

Calcarea Sulph works well for cases of Hidradenitis Suppurativa with boils that discharge thick yellow pus.

How to use Calcarea Sulph?

It is advised to use this medicine in 6X power twice or thrice a day.

6. Sulphur – When One Boil Heals followed by Another Boil

Sulphur is an important medicine for Hidradenitis Suppurativa when a boil in one place heals and is followed by another boil at a different location. The boil discharges pus, sometimes blood-stained. It can be yellow and offensive in nature. The boil is very painful and is much inflamed at the base. Besides, it is also valuable medicine to treat cases where boils come in crops in different body parts.

When to use Sulphur?

This medicine is well-indicated for Hidradenitis Suppurativa when boils keep forming one after another as soon as the previous heals. It is also indicated for multiple boils forming in crops in different areas on body.

How to use Sulphur?

Initially Sulphur 30C can be taken once or twice a week. Its frequent repetition should be avoided.

7. Conium – For Cysts and Hard Lumps / Nodules

Conium is a highly valuable medicine to treat cases of Hidradenitis Suppurativa where cysts or lumps / nodules are present under the skin. The lumps or nodules are hard. This medicine works effectively in dissolving the cysts, lumps and nodules in a gradual manner.

When to use Conium?

Conium should be selected to dissolve cysts and hard lumps / nodes under the skin in Hidradenitis Suppurativa cases.

How to use Conium?

It is recommended to use Conium once a day in 30C potency.

Causes

The exact reason behind this condition is not yet clear. It is not caused by an infection and it doesn’t arise from poor hygiene. This condition is known to begin from blockage of hair follicles. It is thought that genetics play a role in it as it is seen to run in families. Next, hormonal changes are also thought to have a role in its development as it tends to start after puberty. Another factor that is linked with this condition is an overactive immune system that becomes over responsive to little infections in the clogged hair follicles. Apart from the above, other factors that are thought to be associated with development of it includes smoking, being overweight and having acne (pimples).

Women are at more risk to develop this condition as compared to men. Having a family history of this condition also increases the risk. Persons in the age group of 20 to 39 yrs are at risk.

In addition to the above, there are certain medical conditions that raise its risk. The first among them is a metabolic syndrome that refers to a group of five conditions which increases the risk of developing a heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. These conditions include increased blood pressure, excess fat around the waist, high blood sugar, high levels of triglyceride and low level of good cholesterol. The other two are diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a term to describe two disorders in which there occurs chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. First among these disorders is ulcerative colitis and another is Crohn’s disease.

Signs and Symptoms

This condition can appear in one or several areas of the body. The most common areas involved in it includes armpits, area under breast, groin, inner thighs, anal area and between buttocks. In case of hidradenitis suppurativa red, pimple – like bumps, painful lumps, deep nodules (solid, elevated under the skin), cyst (a lump containing fluid or other substance) under the skin and boils (pus-filled bumps) can develop. The bumps can be itchy. The boil can drain fluid, pus or blood with an offensive smell. With passing time, tunnels (sinus tract) that connect lumps may form under the skin. In this condition the lumps tend to occur on both sides of the body.

The bumps keep going away and coming back. The bumps may occur on the same site every time or they may keep changing location. This condition may get worse from stress, being overweight, hormonal changes, heat and smoking.

Stages of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

This condition is classified into three stages (called Hurley stages) depending upon its severity.

Stage 1 –  In this stage ,there is single or multiple nodules / boil with little scarring and no sinus tract

Stage 2 – In this stage, there is more than one bump with little scarring and limited tunnelling.

Stage 3 – In this stage, multiple bumps with extensive scarring and tunnelling appear involving the entire area of the body

Complications

In severe cases or the cases that are left untreated, some complications can arise. First among them is infection on the affected skin area. Second is scarring / pitting on the healed part of the skin and thickening of the scar. Next is restriction of movement from painful lesions and scar mainly when it affects the axilla. In some cases fistula (a hollow passage) can form inside the body. Another complication is swelling in arms or legs when the lumps or scars (that occurs in body areas that are near lymph nodes) obstruct the drainage of lymph. Depression can occur in the person with this condition when they avoid going out in public and self-isolate themselves due to draining from the lesion and offensive smell from it. Severe and advanced cases carry a very rare chance of squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer type).