Hidradenitis Suppurativa aka acne inversa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. This condition causes painful lesions or abscesses mainly found in some specific areas of your body including buttocks, thighs, groin, and armpits.
This condition affects 4 percent of the population and its more common in women than men.
Recently, there’s no cure for this rare kind of chronic skin disease.
This article will explain to you to avoid certain foods if you have Hidradenitis Suppurativa.Â
Foods to Avoid if You Have Hidradenitis Suppurativa
The foods you eat might have a significant effect on your HS.
1. Diary products
Dairy products like cheese, butter, yoghurt, milk, etc can increase your insulin levels in the body.
This leads to the overflow of certain hormones called androgens, which can facilitate the development of HS.
Excluding dairy products from your diet can significantly reduce the symptoms of HS.
2. Food containing Brewer’s yeast
Brewer’s yeast is made from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and used in the production of bread and beer.
Studies revealed that consumption of brewer’s yeast can affect your immune system and trigger the symptoms of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
A study published in the journal Surgery shows that 70 percent of people with HS who removed brewer’s yeast from their diets showed an improvement in Hidradenitis Suppurativa symptoms.
3. Sugary foods
Consuming too much sugary foods like candy, sugary protein bars, chocolate bars, etc can raise insulin levels, leading to HS flare-ups.
4. Processed and fast foods
These foods contain large amounts of salt, carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and added sugar. Consumption of these foods can increase the risk of inflammation, which makes the HS symptoms worse.
These are the certain foods that you have to avoid if you are suffering from Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Diet for the people with Hidradenitis Suppurativa:
There are certain diets that have received a lot of attention as a way to improve the symptoms caused by hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Paleo diet:
A paleo diet is a dietary plan that mimics how our human hunter-gatherer ancestors may have eaten.
This diet typically includes fish, vegetables, lean meat, seeds, and nuts – foods that individuals could theoretically hunt or gather.
This diet can improve your health by removing processed and high-fat foods that contain too many calories and little nutritional value.
There are no studies that look directly at the impact of the paleo diet on Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
However, this diet has received a lot of attention as a way to improve the symptoms of HS.
Nuts and fish contain a high amount of Omega – 3, which helps in reducing inflammation.
Vegan or Vegetarian diet:
On a vegan diet, you have to eat only plant-based foods including whole – grains, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fruits.
A vegan diet can lower the risk of certain diseases and provide potential health benefits.
Plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants which may help reduce inflammation and improve blood sugar regulation.
Individuals who eat a mostly vegan diet show a 24 percent reduction in their risk of developing diabetes which has been linked to HS.
Meditarrian diet:
Meditarrian diet is based on consuming plenty of vegetables, fruits, seafood, whole grains, and healthy fats like avocados and olive oil.
A study conducted on 41 HS patients found that patients who adhered strictly to the Mediterranean diet had less severe HS than others.
A 2019 study found that following an anti-inflammatory diet, such as the Mediterranean diet can improve disease severity in individuals living with hidradenitis suppurativa.
Conclusion:
Various research has confronted that obesity is linked to hidradenitis suppurativa.
Although the diets that I have explained above won’t cure your Hidradenitis suppurativa, they can help minimize your symptoms.
I have mentioned above about certain foods that you should avoid if you have Hidradenitis suppurativa.
Before making any changes in your diet, talk to your doctor first.
Frequently Ask Questions
What causes hidradenitis suppurativa?
The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa is still a bit of a mystery.
This condition occurs when the shafts through which the hair grows out of the skin, called follicles, get blocked causing boils, breakouts, and pimples.
Experts think that the condition could be connected to genes, hormones, or immune system problems.
People who are obese and do smoking can have higher chances of having HS symptoms in their bodies.
I just want to clear one thing that this skin condition is not caused by any kind of infection or being unclean. As well as, it can’t be spread from one person to another person.
What are hidradenitis suppurativa stages?
Doctors commonly used the classification system to categorize the stages of Hidradenitis Suppurativa:
Hurley stage 1: Single bump with no tunneling/sinus tracts.
Hurley stage 2: More than a single bump but with limited tunnels and scarring
Hurley stage 3: Multiple bumps throughout the body with evidence of scarring and pus leaking.
How do you prevent hidradenitis suppurativa?
There are certain tips to prevent Hidradenitis Suppurativa:
- Try to recognize the disease (Red, swollen and painful bumps in your groin, armpit, and under your breasts).
- Stop smoking because smoking can make HS disease more likely.
- Maintain a healthy weight as HS is 10 times more common among obese individuals than those who maintain a healthy weight.
- Use a non – soap or gentle cleanser to clean your entire body and take a daily shower.
- Always wear light and loose clothing as it prevents excess sweating and friction.
- Don’t ever think to shave affected areas.
- Cut sugar and dairy products from your diet.
Does stress make hidradenitis suppurativa worse?
Ans: Yes, stress can make HS disease worse. If you often feel anxious or stressed out, it’s possible that it can aggravate your condition.
Contributed By Fitness Hups
Vishal Khot is the writer of this article. He is a freelance blogger and has written multiple articles for websites. He also likes to write product reviews about home, sports, and fitness. On weekends you will find him playing football or riding bike. He likes to travel to various places.