4 Soaps To Use If You Suffer From Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a condition in which patients suffer through painful acne pustules found around friction-prone skin folds, such as the armpits, the groin area, or around the abdomen when patients have excessive body fat [1]. 

Hidradenitis suppurativa treatment is needed to help manage these painful symptoms, but unfortunately, the effectiveness of these interventions is not always guaranteed. Even definitive hidradenitis suppurativa treatments like surgery or laser treatments can lead to relapses in HS, so patients do get quite frustrated with the condition. [2]

Some supplemental therapies that patients may benefit from would be using zinc for hidradenitis suppurativa or some of the other natural treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa that may help alleviate some of the painful flare-ups. Topical dermal soaps could be another potential benefit for these patients and they will be the focus of this investigation. In this article, we will highlight what soaps you should use if you suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa. 

Dial White Soap 

The first soap that is popular with patients suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa would be Dial White. Soap, in general, plays an essential part in the personal hygiene routines of people with hidradenitis suppurativa because of the chance for opportunistic skin infections. As patents suffer from flare-ups and blistering associated with HS, it is quite probable that bacteria will be able to travel to the sites of these pustules and cause more severe infections.

This particular brand of soap also has the added benefit of acting as a moisturizer to keep the skin in the surrounding area from drying out and rupturing again. Anecdotal studies also indicate that Dial White can also be an effective treatment option against acne, a potential reason why Dial White may be touted as being such an effective treatment option for patients with HS. [3]

Hibiclens 

The next category of soap that can be added as a hidradenitis suppurativa treatment is called Hibiclens. The main active ingredient in this type of soap is 4 percent chlorhexidine gluconate. Hibiclens is an ingredient that is seen in many surgical soaps that nurses will apply on patients to prepare them for surgery.

In one particular study, Hibiclens was compared to a traditional iodine-based preparation to determine which soap had the most effective antibacterial properties. At the end of the 13-week trial period, it was determined that Hibiclens was much more effective compared to the iodine-based soap at killing bacteria as well as eradicating potential cutaneous Staphylococcus infections. This investigation also showed that there were no severe adverse reactions meaning that it was safe for patients to use. [4]

This soap may be able to help people suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa keep their painful pustules under control by preventing infections.

Dove Soap 

The next one of many soaps to use if you suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa could be Dove Soap. The main active ingredient in this type of soap is Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate [5]. This compound was once thought to be dangerous to the general population but repeated studies have been unable to link this compound to any hazardous effects. Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate is commonly found in many of the anti-bacterial soaps that we use so often in modern society, like Dial White for example. Dove soap is similar to Dial but users claim that not only will you have the same anti-bacterial properties of most soaps, but it also has the added attractiveness of having a nice aroma. People who notice that scented soaps are linked to flare-ups of hidradenitis suppurativa should, of course, always opt for unscented soaps.

Pinetarsol 

The last type of soap that we will consider for people who are seeking a natural treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa or at least a soap that will help keep their hidradenitis suppurativa under control goes by the name of Pinetarsol, which is a type of substance that has been used in a number of dermal diseases. It is a fluid based on pine tar.

If you are skeptical about putting sap on your skin, consider that this is a treatment that patients have been using for skin conditions for over 2,000 years. The theory behind why this could be effective is because pine tar is known to reduce DNA synthesis and mitotic activity, which prevents glands and skin from becoming overactive, like in HS so that flare-ups will be less likely. Because of this, there are many skin conditions that patients can use this preparation for, and some of the more common conditions are dermatitis, psoriasis, sunburn, hives and other dry, itchy or flaky skin conditions [6]. 

I will try not to get your hopes up for this pine tar preparation if you suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa, though. Numerous medical studies have shown that pine tar is not necessarily the sole reason why patients with diverse skin conditions benefit from this treatment. They were unable to conclude if pine tar was sufficient enough alone to treat diseases. [7]

All in all, soaps we have presented provide some symptom relief opportunities for patients suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa, at the very least. Although the medical and scientific support may be lacking for a few of them and a lot of the science is based on anecdotal cases, there are some soaps that patients praise. Ultimately, experimenting with a few different soaps may lead hidradenitis suppurativa to find one that truly does help them keep their symptoms to a minimum.