Hidradenitis suppurativa, also known as acne inversa, can affect one spot or multiple areas of the patient’s body. Excess weight, stress, hormonal changes, heat or humidity may worsen symptoms. Since excess weight is a main factor, it’s a good idea to keep your weight in check and at a healthy number. So, anything that helps you do so could be seen as a good path to follow. High amounts of fat in the diet and high blood sugar seem to contribute to flare-ups of hidradenitis suppurativa. Also, dairy products may raise levels of certain hormones that lead to hidradenitis suppurativa.
There are also certain foods that may help patients with this chronic skin condition. Let’s get into those.
Fiber-rich foods
Foods that are high in fiber help balance blood sugar and hormone levels. Fiber also helps you feel full faster and may reduce unhealthy food cravings. This may help you maintain a healthy weight.
Replace simple, sugary carbohydrates with whole foods and complex carbs, such as:
- Fresh and frozen fruit
- Fresh and frozen vegetables
- Fresh and dried herbs
- Lentils
- Beans
- Brown rice
- Barley
- Oats
- Bran
- Couscous
- Quinoa
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation in the body, which can help to prevent or soothe symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa, such as inflamed sores.
There hasn’t been enough research to make a definite link between hidradenitis suppurativa improvement and these foods, but they look promising. Plus, they’re good for your heart, blood vessels, and brain function. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are:
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Walnuts
- Flax seed and flaxseed oil
- Avocados
- Olive oil
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chia seeds
Cutting sugar
Try and choose foods and drinks made with natural sweeteners, as they won’t cause a spike in your blood sugar levels. Replace sugary drinks with sparkling or plain water. Stevia and monk fruit can serve as natural sweeteners that can help reduce the amount of table sugar in your diet.
Mediterranean diet
As for overall diets, the Mediterranean diet, which is high in antioxidant-rich foods, is an anti-inflammatory diet. This can reduce your symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa while improving your overall health.
If the treatment approaches you’ve tried aren’t having the desired effect, call us at Skin Care Research, (561) 948-3116, as we may have a clinical trial that could provide different treatment approaches.
