Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful skin condition that causes bumps and sores, often in areas where skin rubs together. New research shows that what you eat might play a big role in how severe this condition gets. Scientists found that eating lots of processed foods and certain proteins can make HS worse, while eating Mediterranean-style foods, trying special diets, and taking certain vitamins might help reduce painful flare-ups. This review brings together recent studies to show how diet could be an important tool for managing this difficult skin condition.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How different foods and eating patterns affect hidradenitis suppurativa, a painful skin condition that causes bumps and infections
  • Who participated: This was a review of many existing studies, so it looked at research involving hundreds of patients with HS rather than conducting one new study
  • Key finding: Certain diets appear to make HS worse (like typical Western fast food diets), while other eating patterns like Mediterranean diet and low-calorie ketogenic diet may help reduce flare-ups and pain
  • What it means for you: If you have HS, changing what you eat might help reduce painful flare-ups, though you should work with your doctor to find what works best for your body

The Research Details

This was a literature review, meaning researchers looked at many published studies about diet and HS to find patterns and common findings. Instead of doing one new experiment, they gathered information from existing research to see what scientists have already discovered about the connection between food and this skin condition.

The researchers searched through recent scientific articles to find studies that tested different diets and supplements in people with HS. They looked for patterns—did certain foods consistently make symptoms worse? Did other foods help people feel better? By combining what many different studies found, they could see the bigger picture of how diet affects HS.

This type of review is useful because it brings together lots of information that might be scattered across many different studies, making it easier to understand the overall relationship between what you eat and your skin health.

Understanding how diet affects HS is important because it’s something people can actually control and change. Unlike genetic factors (things you’re born with), you can choose what foods to eat. If diet really does affect HS severity, then changing eating habits could be a helpful treatment that works alongside medical care from doctors.

This is a review of existing research rather than a new study, which means it depends on the quality of studies that came before it. The findings are promising but not definitive—more research is needed to confirm exactly how much diet affects HS in different people. The review looked at recent literature, which is good because it includes the newest discoveries, but individual studies may have had different methods and quality levels.

What the Results Show

The research suggests that Western-style diets (high in processed foods, sugar, and certain proteins) appear to make HS worse by triggering inflammation in the body. Specifically, foods high in a protein called leucine and brewer’s yeast seem to activate a pathway in the body called mTOR that increases inflammation and can worsen skin symptoms.

On the positive side, the Mediterranean diet—which focuses on vegetables, fruits, fish, and olive oil—showed promise in helping reduce HS flare-ups. A very low-calorie ketogenic diet (a diet very low in carbs and high in fats) also appeared to help some patients. Additionally, avoiding dairy products helped some people experience fewer painful episodes.

Vitamin D and zinc supplements showed real improvement in patients who had low levels of these nutrients. Interestingly, fasting (eating during limited time windows) may also help reduce inflammation and ease HS symptoms, though more research is needed to understand exactly how this works.

The review highlighted that HS is influenced by both genes you inherit and environmental factors like diet. This means even if you’re genetically prone to HS, what you eat can still make a real difference in how severe your symptoms are. The research also suggests that inflammation throughout your whole body—not just in the skin—plays a major role in HS, which is why dietary changes that reduce overall inflammation can help.

This review builds on growing evidence that diet matters for skin health and inflammatory conditions. Previous research has shown diet affects other inflammatory skin conditions, and this review confirms that HS follows similar patterns. The findings align with what we know about anti-inflammatory diets helping other chronic conditions, suggesting that the Mediterranean diet and similar eating patterns have broad benefits beyond just HS.

This is a review of other studies, not a new experiment, so the strength of the findings depends on the quality of those previous studies. Many studies on diet and HS are small or haven’t been done in the most rigorous way possible. The review doesn’t tell us exactly how much diet matters compared to other factors like genetics or stress. Additionally, what works for one person might not work for another, so individual results will vary. More large, well-designed studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand which dietary changes work best for different people.

The Bottom Line

If you have HS, consider trying a Mediterranean-style diet (vegetables, fruits, fish, healthy oils) as a first dietary change—this has the most research support. Avoid processed foods and Western-style fast food diets when possible. If blood tests show you’re low in vitamin D or zinc, supplementing these nutrients may help. Talk to your doctor before making major dietary changes, especially if you’re considering fasting or very restrictive diets. Confidence level: Moderate—the evidence is promising but more research is needed.

Anyone with hidradenitis suppurativa should discuss dietary changes with their dermatologist or doctor. People with a family history of HS might benefit from eating anti-inflammatory foods as prevention. This research is less relevant for people without HS, though the Mediterranean diet is healthy for everyone. People with other inflammatory skin conditions may also find these dietary approaches helpful.

Don’t expect overnight results. Changes in skin conditions typically take weeks to months to become noticeable. Most people should give a new diet at least 4-8 weeks before deciding if it’s helping. Some people may see improvements in inflammation markers faster than visible skin improvements.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Log daily food intake and rate HS flare-up severity (1-10 scale) each evening. Track specific symptoms like pain, drainage, and new bumps. After 4-6 weeks, review patterns to see if certain foods correlate with worse flare-ups.
  • Start by replacing one processed food per day with a Mediterranean diet option (swap chips for olives, soda for herbal tea, processed snacks for nuts and vegetables). Use the app to set reminders for meals and track which anti-inflammatory foods you’re eating.
  • Weekly check-ins on symptom severity, monthly photos of affected areas for visual tracking, and quarterly reviews with your doctor. Use the app to identify your personal food triggers and celebrate weeks with fewer flare-ups.

This review summarizes research about diet’s role in hidradenitis suppurativa but is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your dermatologist or healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes, starting supplements, or changing your HS treatment plan. Individual results vary, and what helps one person may not help another. If you have HS, work with your medical team to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.