You poor kid, My grand daughter has this crap and will be 16 in August. She is also a Downs child. You are going to have to try the diet route kiddo. Research and try to follow the paleo diet, from what I can find - it works the best. You are already struggling with your weight - which has been my life long battle - so the paleo diet is not going to hurt you. My boss and his wife do it every day and are as healthy as can be. My daughter in law is taking Megs off all the potatoes, tomatoes, salsa, ketchup, and stuff like that. Megs loves potatoes and gravy so it will be tough. You can also try the coconut oil - Walmart has a small jar of organic coconut oil for less than $6. There is a lady on another forum that swears by the stuff. You need to vent - otherwise you will explode. That's what these forums are all about!!! Good luck to you.

I just started reading The Hidden Plague and it is about trying to control HS with diet and that the writers believe it is the most effective way to manage HS. I've tried so many pills and hots and cleansers that I'm willing to give it a go

I don't have access to the book but from what I have been reading online by way of my own research to educate myself, I've started changing my eating habits too. lol right now its more of a weaning than a change, but I would really suggest that we try this for ourselves, each of us. we owe it to ourselves to do what we can no-one else knows our own suffering and needs better than we do ourselves.

People, I want to tell you that there is a cure: If you are sick and tired of the pain, look up a book by a girl named Tara Grant, called The Hidden Plague. I have been on her protocol for 15 days. I am pretty much back in remission and have lost 15 pounds coincidentally. She tells the truth. There is nothing to buy except the book, which you can get on amazon, but I am telling you this woman saved my life and perhaps my sanity. I have suffered with this disease for 14 years and I am better in just a couple of weeks. Please get this book!

Hey everyone I'm new to this but I've suffered with hs now for 14 years and my dermatologist sucks she won't listen to me and she only prescribes dorxy to me for like a month and makes me come back over and over again just to get refills it's very costly when they really don't work all that well. And she tells me there's nothing else out there but I've read a lot and she won't try anything else. I am really wondering if this diet thing is helping people or if it's just other short term thing. Ive suffered for almost 10 years before I knew what it was and I've seen quite a few drs in that time. I just want it gone.

I totally understand, i have had a armpit breakout that left me not able to move my arm from the pain!! It is not easy to tell someone how bad it hurts or how much anxiety and stress this causes. I have 25 years with this devil disease and I still lose every battle to it, temp, foggy head, itching, short patient's, short breath, tight chest and this lasts for a week and a half, How do we explain that to someone? I had to learn how NOT to try to cure this disease as much as to put my efforts into maintaining the effects of this disease.. Wow I was the rant lol Thanks

PSmitty, cromba ....
Would you guys like to keep us posted on how you do on the AIP (Auto Immune Protocol) and a Primal/Paleo lifestyle. (maybe start a post just for that)
I would love to hear how things change for each of you. I too think it may be a very good change to follow.

I am now at the stage, no grains ,no legumes, and no potato.8 days in, and because my husband does so much of the cooking, out of a 4 member family, we are 2 vegetarians, and 2 meat eaters. with me changing out so many things that would have been on the menu before its almost like restaurant orders every day. lol maybe soon we all make our own food ( that would be funny to see)

Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that you've been through so much, esp. at 18. I'd started w/ HS at that age & that was 25+ years ago. I see all sorts of well meaning advice but having had experience w/ this & having tried everything out there, the only things I've found helpful are bleach baths (1 cup of bleach in a full bath of water, no more than once per week), cleaning the open & draining "wounds" w/ Hibicleanse & Sandimmune!!! The Paleo diet helped w/ weight loss but made my HS go into overdrive & was so bad that it created new areas instead of the usual armpit & under-boob chaos. While different things work for different people, having your hopes brought up by something that will not work is a pet peeve of mine. As you may recognize by now, many flare ups occur around your menstrual cycle. The only relief you can get is by way of having these "mountains" open up & drain & a lot of your time will be spent on soaking & compresses to help draining along. You can't make things worse by trying all the things suggested, diets & various medications/preparations, but I'd hate for you to get your hopes up & not have it work for you esp. when people SWEAR by it. No matter what, you will have flare ups & remissions; it's just the nature of this awful affliction! Little things you can do to help, such as wearing loose, natural fabrics (cotton, silk, bamboo, hemp) & keeping your "sweaty zones" clean & dry are key! I understand how hard it is & know a lot of people are well meaning in their suggestions but try by hook or crook to keep a diary to see if various foods, hormone levels or what you wear are making matters better or worse & above all; try to get in to see a dermatologist! If you live near a teaching hospital, your chances of finding a dermatologist w/ experience in treating & managing HS are much better.
I also have autoimmune disease, which had set me on the path of going on Sandimmune (Cyclosporine A) which helped my HS battle tremendously! With other medications out there, such as Humira, being found to help control HS, I'm hoping you are able to have a better chance of getting your own HS under control. There are all sorts of patient assistance programs for those who can't afford the high co-pays & as I'd said previously, doctors affiliated w/ a teaching hospital (connected w/ a medical school) also tend to have social workers that can help do all the legwork & if you haven't got insurance, they often have clinics that are free or low cost & they often have more samples of meds than a regular doctor would.. I wish you the best & want you to know that while things may seem rather bleak & trying on occasion, HS can be tamed! Do what you feel is best for you. I understand that "paleo pushers" mean well but to say that it is the panacea for all HS patients is cruel! I've done every diet out there, including ultra-vegan, macrobiotic, raw diet & was met w/ a whole lot of NOPE & as I said, my flareups were horrendous!!! I literally had developed a GINORMOUS HS cyst that looked like a 3rd boob & it stunk to high heaven. When it opened up; it was thee most disgustingly foul smelling river of pus & sebaceous crud. While change in diet may have helped a few folks w/ HS out there, it's not the panacea, esp. for girls/women of child bearing ages. Try what you are comfortable with but I can assure you that your best best is being seen by a dermatologist from a teaching hospital! Sorry to keep repeating myself but I don't want you to have to put yourself through more stress & expense, only to have things backfire on you.