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). Homeopathic Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa helps in healing the lumps, nodules, cysts and boils in acute cases as well as chronic cases.

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. 

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 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 above having there are certain medical conditions that raises its risk. The first among them is metabolic syndrome that refers to a group of five conditions which increases risk of developing  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 on skin, painful lumps, deep nodules (solid, elevated under the skin), cyst ( a lump containing fluid or other substance) under 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 are more than one bump with little scarring and limited tunnelling.

Stage 3 – in this stage multiple bumps with extensive scarring and tunnelling appear involving 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 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 them 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).

Homeopathic Treatment 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 Lumps, Cyst, Nodules, Boils

Silicea is a top listed medicine for these cases. It is very effective to treat boils, lumps, nodules, cysts under 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 discharges are very offensive where this medicine is required.

2. Hepar Sulph – For Painful Boils

This is a very beneficial medicine for painful boils. The pain to use this medicine can be throbbing or beating. 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 is very offensive. A person needing it may also have a tendency to acne (pimples). These are often filled with pus.  

3. Myristica – To Speed up Recovery of Boils

This medicine is prepared from plant Myristica Sebifera. This plant belongs to the family myristicaceae. It is a very useful medicine to help cases of boils. In these cases it works to aid quick recovery by hastening the process of pus formation. Surgical intervention is often prevented by timely use of this medicine in these cases.

4. Belladonna – When There are Boils in Initial Stage with Heat and Swelling

This medicine is prepared from plants commonly known as deadly nightshade. This plant belongs to family solanaceae.  This medicine is indicated in initial stages when there are boils with heat and swelling. 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. 

5. Calcarea Sulph – For Boils with Yellow Pus Discharge

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

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

This medicine is prominently indicated 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. Apart from above it is also valuable medicine to treat cases where boils come in crops in different body parts.

7. Rhus Tox – When There is Discharge of Blood Stained Pus 

This medicine is indicated when there is blood stained discharge from the boil. It is swollen and painful to touch. Pain  is usually stinging in nature.

8. Merc Sol – When There is Discharge of Yellow Green Pus 

This medicine is considered when the lumps discharge yellow green pus. This is attended with burning, stinging types of pain. Another specific indication to use this medicine is formation of boil in females at the time of menstrual period.

9. Phytolacca – For Hard, Painful Nodes / Lumps

This medicine is prepared from plant Phytolacca decandra commonly known as poke – root. It belongs to family phytolaccaceae. This medicine is very suitable to treat cases in which there are hard, painful nodes / lumps present under the skin. Other than this it also helps cases of boils with burning pains. These pain mostly get worse at night where it is required. Watery offensive discharges can be present. It is known to hasten the process of pus formation and speed up recovery. 

10. Conium – For Cysts and  Lumps / Nodules

This is a highly valuable medicine to treat cases 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.