What helps me:

• 150mg Spiro/day
• Birth control (a specific kind prescribed by my Derm)
• Antibacterial soap (use it last on your HS affected areas). I use Hibiclens.
• Antibacterial topical (prescribed by a Derm - Clindamycin)
• Pre-natal Vitamins (I’ve also tried multi vitamins, etc but damn if these don’t give me a good boost… you can pry them out of my cold, dead hands).
• No whey products, no protein shakes/bars, low sugar, significantly less dairy, and a high fiber diet! I try not to spike my blood sugar either (all of these diet tips were recommended by my Derm)
• Loose clothing (and frequently changed out.. I never wear jeans more than once, for example.. I want a clean pair)
• If possible I’ll go into the Derm and have a flare injected with cortisone. If I can’t, I put the max strength cortisone cream on the flare (not an open wound…) and it helps.

I have not seen a difference in my HS when it comes to exercise or nightshades, etc. I have also never been a smoker.

With all that going on, I rarely have a cyst come to the surface. When I’m off my game and indulge in sugary crap and dairy I tend to have flares. Otherwise it leans towards remission.

What has worked for you?